You may remember from my update of 19 January that I asked you to consider responding to the UK National Screening Committee’s request for public comments on the report recommending AGAINST the introduction of screening for group B Strep in pregnancy. The UK National Screening Committee has now published its recommendation, which remains that the Government does NOT introduce routine screening for GBS. As I am sure you will agree, it is extremely frustrating, disappointing and infuriating that yet again, the opportunity to improve the chances of all pregnant women and babies in the UK to avoid the horrors of group B Strep has been so irresponsibly ignored. I am truly sick and disheartened that the Committee has ignored the multitude of international evidence, and the wishes and opinions of families and health professionals in coming to this recommendation. In its response, the Committee states that it “is also asked to acknowledge an e-petition, with over 250,000 signatories that was presented to the Secretary of State for Health… on 23 January” without further comment or reflection as to the important consideration and reassessment this should provoke in bodies such as itself. It is clear to me that action now needs to come from the politicians to listen to our voices about GBS screening above “experts”, who recommend inaction and silence to allow this terrible infection go on affecting hundreds of families in the UK every year. If you wish to add your voice to this, please write to Jeremy Hunt urging him to disregard the Committee’s report and introduce GBS screening now. Or, if you are on Twitter, click on this link https://ctt.ec/LXbQf to tweet him and Minister for Health, Philip Dunne MP. Thank you, Fiona