Written question asked by Kerry McCarthy (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 March 2011. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 March 2011 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Streptococcus: Screening

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 907W, on streptococcus: screening, what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of group B streptococcus.

Answer: The Department supports the 'Standards for Maternity Care' published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in 2008, which state that maternity services should comply with evidence-based guidelines for the provision of high-quality clinical care.We encourage the national health service to take into account the guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists provided by the RCOG which published its Green-top guideline No.36 on the prevention of early-onset neonatal Group B Streptococcus disease in November 2003.The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to produce a clinical guideline on the use of antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection. One of the relevant infections is Group B Streptococcus. The guideline is currently under development.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 46527; 525 c319W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Streptococcus: Screening
Monday, 7 March 2011
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Pregnancy Screening Streptococcus
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk