Keep trying to make them see sense.

[heathershorrock]

My daughter was in labour for 30 hours. She was not tested, nor offered any treatment. Both her and the baby got B. Strep. If I hadn't looked it up - I don't think they would have told them what it was. They had said it was 'just an infection'. They spent a week in the antenatal unit and the baby had two lumbar punctures along with a cannula attached to his little arm. It was a very worrying and anxious time. Thankfully, they are both well. We have already had a meeting with doctors and staff at the hospital and it was very positive. However, the people who attended that meeting have left and so nothing has been done at all. We have another meeting tomorrow to put over our case yet again!! Which is:- that information be given to all pregnant women so that it becomes common knowledge. All women be told that they can have the test (even if they have to pay for it) and that they can opt to have antibiotic treatment should they test positive or have a risk factor already. Let us hope that this time, something is actually done about it.

[Hidden]

Thanks for posting. So pleased your daughter and grandson are ok and totally agree with you. If you haven't already done so please phone the GBSS office on 01444 416176 if we can help you prepare for the meeting. We would also love to know how it goes and if there's anything we can do to help with following up. There are some links on website about complaints too gbss.org.uk/content.php?sub...

Good luck and please let us know how your meeting goes

[heathershorrock]

I wish that I had read this before our meeting on Tuesday!! We had a previous meeting in April at the hospital, which went very well. We weren't there to hound them about William's birth (although we did think there was negligence involved as her water's broke before labour and she was in labour for 30 hours) but rather, that more pregnant mothers be more fully informed regarding Group B Strep and all the implications relating to the infection. That they be offered the test, should they so wish and if they were found to be positive then to be offered the test, either privately or ideally through the NHS. The first time we met in April, they seemed to be quite in agreement with us and promised to put it to the 'committee' with the hopes that they would produce some form of literature for expectant mothers and also to give out more information verbally during regular appointments with the midwife. Imagine our disappointment when, several months later, we rang the hospital and nothing had been done and most of the people involved had left. We arranged another meeting and the conversation was much more guarded and practised. For every point that I made, they had a rejoinder. The responses they made were all the usual answers to the questions and facts already made on your site and various others. Not only that, but they now said that they only took guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Thus, when waters broke pre-labour and the length of labour was longer than 18 hours (as happened to my daughter), it was no longer a reason to give antibiotic treatment. However, I feel that my forceful argument for the provision of leaflets or similar with information about Group B. Strep was taken on board and they have agreed to put it before the committee at the next meeting. They also agreed to the verbal exchange of facts to expectant mothers by midwives during their 'one to one' meetings at the start of their pregnancy. If this does happen, then I believe that it is a start. However, I am not holding my breath. We will be informed of the outcome in due time. Let us just hope that no one leaves in that time!!!

[heathershorrock in reply to heathershorrock]

Sorry, I should have said that mothers should be offered the 'treatment, should the test prove positive'.