The current Director for Health Protection and Medical Director for Public Health England (formerly the acting chief executive of the Health Protection Agency) is content to share the reply to the letter sent to him on 21 December 2012 by the chief medical officer, Department of Health, in respect of Group B streptococcus.

A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Public Health England (PHE) published a briefing note in January 2014 to provide information for PHE's regional microbiologists on the appropriate place of enriched culture medium (ECM) testing within current United Kingdom guidelines. This document was developed following discussion with other relevant professional bodies and is available on their website.

The work that led to this briefing note concluded that no indications for testing high risk women using ECM methods have been evaluated or recommended within current clinical practice. Offering the test to low risk women at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy is also not recommended in the UK.

As a result of this work, PHE decided not to introduce the test within its laboratories.

This was also mentioned in internal PHE communications in December 2013 to regional heads of microbiology operations and regional microbiology network managers.

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme is planning to publish a call for research proposals in July this year on rapid testing for group B streptococcal colonisation in pregnant women considered to be at high risk.

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme is planning to publish a call for research proposals in July this year on rapid testing for group B streptococcal colonisation in pregnant women considered to be at high risk.

The Department has set no target but is working together with the national health service, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry to make improvements in the reduction of early-onset group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, are to appoint a clinical research fellow to carry out an audit across the United Kingdom. It would aim to provide feedback and advice to all participating trusts about how they can further improve their adherence to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidelines on the prevention of neonatal group B streptococcus disease.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence, to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries.

However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study: “Kaambwa B, Bryan S, Gray 3, Milner P, Daniels J, Khan K, Roberts T. Cost-effectiveness of rapid tests and other existing strategies for screening and management of early-onset group B streptococcus during labour. BJOG. 2010;117:1616-1627” suggested that assessments of screening's cost effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice. A copy has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not held any consultations with any European Union member states on the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence, to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries.

However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study: “Kaambwa B, Bryan S, Gray 3, Milner P, Daniels J, Khan K, Roberts T. Cost-effectiveness of rapid tests and other existing strategies for screening and management of early-onset group B streptococcus during labour. BJOG. 2010;117:1616-1627” suggested that assessments of screening's cost effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice. A copy has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not held any consultations with any European Union member states on the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence, to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries.

However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study: “Kaambwa B, Bryan S, Gray 3, Milner P, Daniels J, Khan K, Roberts T. Cost-effectiveness of rapid tests and other existing strategies for screening and management of early-onset group B streptococcus during labour. BJOG. 2010;117:1616-1627” suggested that assessments of screening's cost effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice. A copy has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not held any consultations with any European Union member states on the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence, to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries.

However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study: “Kaambwa B, Bryan S, Gray 3, Milner P, Daniels J, Khan K, Roberts T. Cost-effectiveness of rapid tests and other existing strategies for screening and management of early-onset group B streptococcus during labour. BJOG. 2010;117:1616-1627” suggested that assessments of screening's cost effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice. A copy has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not held any consultations with any European Union member states on the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies.

The Department has not had any discussions with any EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies. However, practice in Europe varies and the United Kingdom rate of early onset GBS infection appears to be comparable with that in other European countries. A copy of the Lancet article, ‘Group B streptococcal disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis’, has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries. However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study, published in 2009, suggested that assessments of screening's cost-effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence,

to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

Regarding the increasing number of reports of GBS infection, data from the Health Protection Agency's laboratory surveillance scheme suggest that the rate of GBS bacteraemia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined was 0.37/1000 births in 2003 and in 2010 it was 0.41/1000. It appears that there has been fluctuation both up and down between these points.

The Department has not had any discussions with any EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies. However, practice in Europe varies and the United Kingdom rate of early onset GBS infection appears to be comparable with that in other European countries. A copy of the Lancet article, ‘Group B streptococcal disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis’, has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries. However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study, published in 2009, suggested that assessments of screening's cost-effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence,

to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

Regarding the increasing number of reports of GBS infection, data from the Health Protection Agency's laboratory surveillance scheme suggest that the rate of GBS bacteraemia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined was 0.37/1000 births in 2003 and in 2010 it was 0.41/1000. It appears that there has been fluctuation both up and down between these points.

The Department has not had any discussions with any EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies. However, practice in Europe varies and the United Kingdom rate of early onset GBS infection appears to be comparable with that in other European countries. A copy of the Lancet article, ‘Group B streptococcal disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis’, has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries. However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study, published in 2009, suggested that assessments of screening's cost-effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence,

to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

Regarding the increasing number of reports of GBS infection, data from the Health Protection Agency's laboratory surveillance scheme suggest that the rate of GBS bacteraemia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined was 0.37/1000 births in 2003 and in 2010 it was 0.41/1000. It appears that there has been fluctuation both up and down between these points.

The Department has not had any discussions with any EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies. However, practice in Europe varies and the United Kingdom rate of early onset GBS infection appears to be comparable with that in other European countries. A copy of the Lancet article, ‘Group B streptococcal disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis’, has been placed in the Library.

The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries. However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study, published in 2009, suggested that assessments of screening's cost-effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

In response to representations made to the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence,

to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.

The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.

Regarding the increasing number of reports of GBS infection, data from the Health Protection Agency's laboratory surveillance scheme suggest that the rate of GBS bacteraemia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined was 0.37/1000 births in 2003 and in 2010 it was 0.41/1000. It appears that there has been fluctuation both up and down between these points.