Written question asked by Justin Madders (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 13 January 2017. It was answered by Philip Dunne (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 January 2017 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Pregnancy: Streptococcus

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will take steps to make group B streptococcus screening routinely available to all pregnant women.

Answer: The Department takes advice on all aspects of screening from the independent UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC is currently reviewing its recommendation on antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus carriage as part of its three yearly review cycle. A public consultation is currently open and will be closing on 25 January. The UK NSC will consider the evidence and consultation responses at its meeting in February 2017.

Secondary information