Dear Friends

After the great progress for our campaign that I have been so pleased to share with you recently, I am writing to share this article with you that highlights the need to continue raising awareness nonetheless.

Whilst Bethany Davies’s story, fortunately, ends on a happy note, with her daughter Elsie now a healthy and thriving 18-month-old, the horror and distress Mum and baby had to go through cannot be overstated or dismissed. All of which, as Bethany says, could have been avoided had she been given proper information about group B Strep and the £11 ECM test. The article also includes other stories that you may have seen before, where group B Strep took a much worse toll on babies Archie, Olive and Roman, and their families.

Very sadly and frustratingly, while we wait for the clinical trial to be completed, reported on and decisions made about the results, these heartbreaking stories will be added to. I am sure, like me (especially when you have your own devastating experience to relive each time) you wish never to have to read another one.

So please keep up your amazing awareness-raising work and continue to share the stories and the petition with your friends and loved ones, to help protect our precious newborns.

One day I believe that the ECM test and full accurate information on GBS will be offered to every pregnant woman in the UK – that day cannot come soon enough for me and my Edward.

All the best,

Fiona