My sister recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, only to have the joy of this occasion marred by the discovery that he was severely unwell. It was later determined that he was suffering from a Group B Streptococcus (Step B) infection, something we had never anticipated. This situation could have been avoided with a simple routine test that is not currently offered to expecting mothers in England and Scotland.

’My son Joey was born completely unaware that, within just a few hours, our lives were about to change.
Less than 4 hours after he was born, Joey was taken from us and admitted to Special Care. He had contracted Group B Strep (Strep B) from me during birth, which caused him to develop sepsis — a life-threatening infection.
We went from the excitement of bringing our newborn home and starting our lives as a family, to spending 10 terrifying days in Special Care, never knowing what each day would bring.
Instead of being at home making memories, we watched our tiny baby fighting an infection. We watched him on oxygen, covered in cannulas for IVs and drips, and being fed through a tube. We had to leave the hospital every night without knowing exactly what we would wake up to the next morning.
Those are memories that will stay with us forever.
We are incredibly, incredibly lucky that Joey made such an amazing recovery. But we cannot ignore the fact that not every baby is as fortunate.
Group B Strep is something that can be carried by a mother without her knowing. In the UK, routine testing during pregnancy is not currently offered to every woman, meaning many mothers have no idea they are carrying it until it is too late.
Our experience has shown us just how devastating the consequences can be.
No parent should have to go through what we went through. No newborn should have to fight a life-threatening infection that may have been preventable with better screening.
We are supporting this petition because we believe every pregnant woman should have the opportunity to know whether she is carrying Group B Strep, so that she can make informed choices and receive the appropriate care during labour.
For Joey, we were lucky.
For the babies who aren't, and for the families who have lost them, we have to do better’

Group B Strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborn babies. According to the charity Group B Strep Support, approximately 1 in 1,750 newborns in the UK develop GBS infections. Tragically, one in ten of these babies will die, and many more will suffer long-term disabilities. Such a staggering statistic means our healthcare system must urgently address this issue with preventative measures.

Countries like the United States and Canada already have mandatory testing during pregnancy, which has significantly decreased the incidence of this infection. It's time for the UK to implement a similar standard to protect our most vulnerable. Offering a routine Step B test to every expectant mother could save hundreds of babies each year from serious illness or worse.

Routine testing would allow healthcare professionals to identify mothers carrying the Step B bacteria, so they can offer antibiotics during labour to prevent the infection of the newborn. This simple, low-cost intervention can mean the difference between life and death, health and lifelong disability for so many infants.

I am calling on the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK to make routine Step B testing a standard practice across the health services in both England and Scotland. With your support, we can bring about this crucial change for the safety and well-being of future generations.

Please join me in ensuring that no other family has to experience the trauma ours faced. Sign the petition and help advocate for the health and safety of our children.