Petition · PE01505 · Session 4
Awareness of Strep B in Pregnancy and Infants
Signatures
0
Comments
223
Considered
6 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce new guidelines advising that all expectant mothers are given information about Strep B and are either screened for Strep B as a matter of routine or given infomation on where to go if they wish to be tested privately.
What the petitioner did first
I am campaigning for all pregnant women to be routinely tested for Strep B and to raise awareness of the dangers of contracting this infection.
This campaign is personal to me as I lost my Granddaughter recently, who died age 20 days from late-onset GBS. When this happened to our family we were completely devastated and were not aware of the dangers of GBS.
There are currently advertising campaigns in place warning us of the dangers of Meningitis and the signs and symptoms to look out for but there are none warning us of the risks of Strep B.
By starting this campaign I hope that we can raise awareness of GBS and for leaflets to be available at all at Health Centres etc warning us of the risks and to prevent it happening to anyone else.
A national tabloid published an article informing people of what happened to my Granddaughter and also the local newspapers published the article.
Margaret McDougall, MSP, contacted me personally with a view to raising the issue at the Scottish Parliament and I am starting an e-petition calling for all pregnant women to be tested for GBS. Countries like the USA, Canada, France, Germany and Spain that have introduced screening on a routine basis have seen a dramatic reduction in infections in the newborn.
If I can raise awareness and help prevent this happening to anyone else it may help to ease the heartbreaking devastation that our family have endured over the last few months.
This campaign is personal to me as I lost my Granddaughter recently, who died age 20 days from late-onset GBS. When this happened to our family we were completely devastated and were not aware of the dangers of GBS.
There are currently advertising campaigns in place warning us of the dangers of Meningitis and the signs and symptoms to look out for but there are none warning us of the risks of Strep B.
By starting this campaign I hope that we can raise awareness of GBS and for leaflets to be available at all at Health Centres etc warning us of the risks and to prevent it happening to anyone else.
A national tabloid published an article informing people of what happened to my Granddaughter and also the local newspapers published the article.
Margaret McDougall, MSP, contacted me personally with a view to raising the issue at the Scottish Parliament and I am starting an e-petition calling for all pregnant women to be tested for GBS. Countries like the USA, Canada, France, Germany and Spain that have introduced screening on a routine basis have seen a dramatic reduction in infections in the newborn.
If I can raise awareness and help prevent this happening to anyone else it may help to ease the heartbreaking devastation that our family have endured over the last few months.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
18 Mar 20141 mention
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17 Jun 20141 mention
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28 Oct 20141 mention
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13 Jan 20151 mention
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17 Mar 20151 mention
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26 May 20151 mention
Signatures by country
1,874 online signaturesComments
223 comments, oldest first223 comments · showing 1–50
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Alison McClymont 10 Jan 2014Please sign,help save Babies from unnecessary death and suffering
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Misty Gallagher 10 Jan 2014I think people should be told a lot more about this as it's not been fully explained to pregnant mothers
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Margaret young 10 Jan 2014This is for my beautiful grandaughter Lola young who sadly went to sleep having this
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charlene 10 Jan 2014defo not enough information given ivenot long had my baby and dont know anything about Strep B x
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Deborah Toland 10 Jan 2014Its an outrage that something so damaging to your baby health is not seen to be important enough to be tested for.
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Lisa Irvine-Watson 10 Jan 2014I was one of the lucky ones who was detected positive in all three of my pregnancies due to other symptoms.
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michaela gregson 10 Jan 2014They shud test every pregnant woman . I got tested a week be4 and had it.i never herd of this step b. But If I didn't get tested there cud of bin serious consequences for my baby
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April Lane 10 Jan 2014Really hope this petition gets all the signatures needed
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Bonnie Edwards 10 Jan 2014This needs to be given to all potential new mums to be, it's awful would not wish anyone to have to go through what we did :-( thankfully our little girl was treated and is ok xx
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Don 10 Jan 2014Agree with this.
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Scott McClymont 10 Jan 2014About time!!!!!
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Shelley Woodcock 10 Jan 2014Having gone through the trauma of my daughter having Group B at 12 days old, it's a so ridiculous that she could have been spared this illness if I had been offered this simple and cheap test.
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marie clare earl 10 Jan 2014my daughter had group b strep she only survived because of the special care she received almost immediately after birth, I had NEVEFR heard of group b strep, she was my second baby. gbss and not the hospital gave me information about group b strep. Group b strep should be standard testing, in the long run it would save money, my daughter spent 12 days in SCBU. She is now Thankfully a healthy, feisty 17 year old!
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Susanne bicket trundle 10 Jan 2014This should be a routine test !!!
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Paula Mcfarlane 10 Jan 2014I'm a carrier of strep b and I only found out after losing my first baby! It should be routine to test!
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Nichola wells 10 Jan 2014I got a positive result for gbs with my youngest who is now 3 ! If I did not receive antibiotics he may of died or been left with disabilities which would of been traumatic for him and us as a family . Helping pregnant women with the need of testing and antibiotics will not just help them but the nhs also . With the amount of medication and care that goes into looking after disabled children is astronomical. By reducing the risks of gbs we are also reducing the number of fatalities and disabilities . Good reason to push this as a new testing .
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Paula Quinn 10 Jan 2014Even after receivingp the antibiotics my son was I'll with double pneumonia when born,as I was a carrier of strep B. I wouldn't like to think what could have happened if I was unaware that I was a carrier.( found to carry strep B in previous pregnancy)
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richard irvine 10 Jan 2014help
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Grant McFadyen 10 Jan 2014Agreed.
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Emily Parsons 10 Jan 2014We lost our beautiful baby boy 'Dimitris' to Group B Strep on 07-01-2012 age 4 days and18 hours.We were not aware of the facts and had never heard of GBS. In a following pregnancy I was tested and found to be positive. I was given antibiotics in labour and our baby girl was given them for three days following delivery. She is now one and very healthy. Please help prevent other families from suffering the heart ache our family has to live with. Four siblings had also cuddled and loved Dimitris at home before he was suddenly taken away from us.
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Mia De Marco 11 Jan 2014After learning that one of my friend lost her beautiful baby girl.. And how bad it was for her, I can't understand why this is even a question!! Test everyone.. We're losing precious souls that would have an amazing impact on this earth!! This test needs to be a must...
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Steve 11 Jan 2014Good cause
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Joy Skjei 11 Jan 2014Everone Should be tested!!!!!
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Jackie Thomas 11 Jan 2014Please raise awareness of this serious health issue. Far too many babies have died due to ignorance.
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nicola gibson 11 Jan 2014there should be more awareness of this.my nefew was admitted to hospital 3wks ago with it thankfully hes ok but still cant walk on his own and hes 2 and able to walk afore.x
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lynn doyle 11 Jan 2014This test should routinely be given to expectant mums
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margaret clegg 11 Jan 2014Hope this helps
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Wee Ernie 11 Jan 2014Happy new year Jackie Stevie Nicole I will always sign your petition xxxx
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Nancy Kay 11 Jan 2014this needs to become part of anti-natal care, as common as having a scan, checking blood pressure etc etc.
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Rachael Bell 11 Jan 2014Everybody should read up on group b strep,I had it in 3 of my pregnancys.a
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yvonne gardiner 11 Jan 2014I was tested after miscarriage and confirmed for streptococcus group b. The midwife said she doubted this was my reason for loss. But I was told that I would need an iv of antibiotics all through my next possible labour. I had never heard of this before.
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Diane Williams 11 Jan 2014Every expectant mother should be screened for StrepB so their child can live,babies dying needlessly
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Lisa 11 Jan 2014Signed x
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Lorraine Mccrindle 12 Jan 2014Please test for this its such a simple and cost effective thing to do!
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Lillian Colquhoun 12 Jan 2014Thanks
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Lauren macintyre 12 Jan 2014Let's raise awareness of Strep B so people know about Strep B and it's symptoms and how harmful it is to newborn babies.
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lynn rattray 12 Jan 2014I had this with my 5th pregnancy and was discovered due to having urine infection hate to.think what outcome wld of been had midwifes not found out I was carryin it definitely shld be a compulsory test
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Margaret Cook 13 Jan 2014This is something that should have more dine about it
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johnny wallace 13 Jan 2014every woman should have the right to this test.
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Annmarie 13 Jan 2014yes i think that you should be told about Strep B.Special when it can result in your baby being severe disabilities or death..
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kayleigh 13 Jan 2014I think every parent should be informed of group b strep. The first time I heard of it was 6 hours after my son was born and didnt have a clue whag to expect was just given a leaflet to read.
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Sioban 13 Jan 2014It should just be done without question
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Marie Wingfield 13 Jan 2014I have learned almost at the cost of my son's life how dangerous this can be. My son had to be flown to Glasgow for treatment in NICU at Southern General hospital. He was on full life support for 3 days followed by CPAP for a further week, still with a need for oxygen in his incubator after that. I wasn't even told what it was that caused so many problems until a debrief that I requested some months after the birth. As a nation we are always conjuring up new ways with regard to medical care and treatment yet the attitude towards Group B Strep is very backward and lacking. How many more babies are the NHS and government prepared to put at risk?!
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Richard 13 Jan 2014This should happen as I nearly lost my wee boy. And all the stress that we had with him in nicu not just that the travel we had to do as he was taken to Glasgow. We are in the north of Scotland. Could all have been avoided if the done this test to let us and the midwife know what they are dealing with. It is not fair that what should b a joyfull time for parents it been taken away just because u want let them get this test done.
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john mc dade 13 Jan 2014it should be there for every new mother and new baby no maybe's everyone.
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Maureen Moore 13 Jan 2014As a retired midwife this should be information available to all mothers to be babies die from this FACT as midwife's we had policies for everything I hope that all midwife's get the training required to inform mother's and father's to be about this people need this information.
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Nita Amba 13 Jan 2014I only heard about GBS back in July 2001 after losing my 1st born 'Our Precious Son' to this fatal infection. I wouldn't want anyone to go through such a devastating experience, losing a child is one of the most hardest things to go through....
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Kirsty Martin 13 Jan 2014I was diagnosed with group b strep 6 weeks ago with my son 3rd pregnancy we had a routine swap after questioning whether waters had broken at 38 weeks were then told i have group b strep scary to think a infection that lies in your body can be so harmful to your baby i went into rapid labour so docs could only get one bag of antibiotics into me before i delivered my son we spent 24 hours under observation before being allowed home all being well 6 weeks later happy and healthy but unfortunately this is not always the case we found out by chance all pregnant woman should be swabbed to check for this.
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Sharon H 13 Jan 2014I lost my baby daughter aged 2 hours in 2001 to an overwhelming Group B Strep infection....it's preventable....no-one should experience losing a precious baby like I did...
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Sarah Quinn 13 Jan 2014A friend lost her baby to Strep B 12 years ago...I still can't believe it is not routinely tested for in pregnancy. How many completely unavoidable deaths there must have been.