We are supporting Group B Strep Awareness Month – why not join us?
July 16 2021 | News
July is a very important month for the world’s leading charity fighting to eradicate Group B Strep (GBS) infection in babies. Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is an amazing organisation and one we at Summerfield Healthcare support with annual donations.
Many of you may know little or nothing about this ongoing fight which is why Group B Strep Awareness Month is so vital – an annual campaign to highlight the work of the charity, raise awareness of the condition, research and education and act as a fundraiser to bring in the donations to keep it all going.
What is Group B Strep?
Group B Streptococcus is the country’s most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies and of meningitis in babies up to three months old. It is a condition that generally flies under most people’s radar – few have heard of it and, unfortunately, the first many know about it is when their baby becomes seriously ill with GBS meningitis, pneumonia or sepsis.
The statistics
On average each month across the UK and Ireland:
- 66 babies are diagnosed with GBS
- 56 make a full recovery
- 4 die from the infection
- 6 are left with long-term physical or mental disabilities
The GBSS charity is working hard to eliminate the condition by educating health professionals, midwives, doctors and the general public about Group B Strep and by providing information and support to families who are affected.
During awareness month GBSS, and everyone who supports the charity and the work it does, cranks up the campaign to get as many people as possible to raise awareness and make the vital donations which help fund education and prevention programmes.
The more people who know about Group B Strep the better the chances families have of getting the condition recognised and acted upon – early intervention is important in ensuring the protection of a newborn baby.
GBSS is completely independent, receives no funding from the NHS or Government and relies on the kindness of donations to enable it to keep working. We think they are doing a wonderful job and are deserving of all the help they can get – which is why we choose to support the charity with regular monthly contributions.
Awareness month is a great opportunity for everyone to find out more about GBS and the charity’s work. We will be doing all we can to help, so why don’t you join us?
Summerfield Healthcare provides GBS testing for patients in the third trimester of pregnancy, usually between week 35-37, at our Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton branches. Book online here: https://booking.summerfieldhealthcare.co.uk/booking?apt=gbs-screen.