The Department has not held a public consultation on screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy including screening policy for GBS carriage in pregnancy. The UK NSC held a public consultation on its 'Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy' review from 16 July 2012 to 23 October 2012. The UK NSC considered all of the consultation responses submitted during the consultation period and the screening review was amended in light of these responses. A recommendation was then made to Ministers.

The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has no plans to respond directly to those people who

wrote submissions to the UK NSCs consultation on screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy.

The Department has not held a public consultation on screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy including screening policy for GBS carriage in pregnancy. The UK NSC held a public consultation on its 'Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy' review from 16 July 2012 to 23 October 2012. The UK NSC considered all of the consultation responses submitted during the consultation period and the screening review was amended in light of these responses. A recommendation was then made to Ministers.

The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has no plans to respond directly to those people who

wrote submissions to the UK NSCs consultation on screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its updated guideline on the prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical, audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department is working together with the national health service, RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women, as identified in the RCOG revised Green-Top guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease, can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for midwives and other clinicians; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

No target has been set by the Department on Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.

A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through their partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.

The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.

Government does not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council,

which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.

Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by Local Delivery Plans and the needs of the service.

Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with the professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education is of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.

No target has been set by the Department on Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.

A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through their partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.

The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.

Government does not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council,

which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.

Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by Local Delivery Plans and the needs of the service.

Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with the professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education is of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.

No target has been set by the Department on Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.

A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through their partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.

The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.

Government does not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council,

which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.

Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by Local Delivery Plans and the needs of the service.

Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with the professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education is of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.

No target has been set by the Department on Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.

A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through their partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.

The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.

Government does not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council,

which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.

Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by Local Delivery Plans and the needs of the service.

Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with the professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education is of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carnage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms.

At the request of the chief medical officer, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has agreed to work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Pathologists to produce a working paper by the end of March 2013. This paper will address:

the availability and quality of GBS testing within NHS laboratories, requested by pregnant women and their healthcare professionals when there is a clinical indication to carry out such a test, including a proposed timetable for introduction; and

production of educational materials for health professionals to include details on the suitability of testing methodology, sample site selection and culture methods.

No assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of the 2012 update to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease guidelines on rates of group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country. Latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011.

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs) are freely available from the HPA website. Laboratories can download and adapt the method into a standard operating procedure based on local policies. The SMIs are not mandatory and therefore the HPA does not know how many NHS laboratories use the method.

In using SMIs, laboratories should take account of local requirements and undertake additional investigations where appropriate. SMIs help laboratories to meet accreditation requirements by promoting high quality practices which are auditable. UK microbiology laboratories that do not use SMIs should be able to demonstrate at least equivalence in their testing methodologies to the relevant accreditation body.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carnage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms.

At the request of the chief medical officer, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has agreed to work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Pathologists to produce a working paper by the end of March 2013. This paper will address:

the availability and quality of GBS testing within NHS laboratories, requested by pregnant women and their healthcare professionals when there is a clinical indication to carry out such a test, including a proposed timetable for introduction; and

production of educational materials for health professionals to include details on the suitability of testing methodology, sample site selection and culture methods.

No assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of the 2012 update to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease guidelines on rates of group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country. Latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011.

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs) are freely available from the HPA website. Laboratories can download and adapt the method into a standard operating procedure based on local policies. The SMIs are not mandatory and therefore the HPA does not know how many NHS laboratories use the method.

In using SMIs, laboratories should take account of local requirements and undertake additional investigations where appropriate. SMIs help laboratories to meet accreditation requirements by promoting high quality practices which are auditable. UK microbiology laboratories that do not use SMIs should be able to demonstrate at least equivalence in their testing methodologies to the relevant accreditation body.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carnage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms.

At the request of the chief medical officer, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has agreed to work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Pathologists to produce a working paper by the end of March 2013. This paper will address:

the availability and quality of GBS testing within NHS laboratories, requested by pregnant women and their healthcare professionals when there is a clinical indication to carry out such a test, including a proposed timetable for introduction; and

production of educational materials for health professionals to include details on the suitability of testing methodology, sample site selection and culture methods.

No assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of the 2012 update to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease guidelines on rates of group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country. Latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011.

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs) are freely available from the HPA website. Laboratories can download and adapt the method into a standard operating procedure based on local policies. The SMIs are not mandatory and therefore the HPA does not know how many NHS laboratories use the method.

In using SMIs, laboratories should take account of local requirements and undertake additional investigations where appropriate. SMIs help laboratories to meet accreditation requirements by promoting high quality practices which are auditable. UK microbiology laboratories that do not use SMIs should be able to demonstrate at least equivalence in their testing methodologies to the relevant accreditation body.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carnage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms.

At the request of the chief medical officer, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has agreed to work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Pathologists to produce a working paper by the end of March 2013. This paper will address:

the availability and quality of GBS testing within NHS laboratories, requested by pregnant women and their healthcare professionals when there is a clinical indication to carry out such a test, including a proposed timetable for introduction; and

production of educational materials for health professionals to include details on the suitability of testing methodology, sample site selection and culture methods.

No assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of the 2012 update to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease guidelines on rates of group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country. Latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011.

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs) are freely available from the HPA website. Laboratories can download and adapt the method into a standard operating procedure based on local policies. The SMIs are not mandatory and therefore the HPA does not know how many NHS laboratories use the method.

In using SMIs, laboratories should take account of local requirements and undertake additional investigations where appropriate. SMIs help laboratories to meet accreditation requirements by promoting high quality practices which are auditable. UK microbiology laboratories that do not use SMIs should be able to demonstrate at least equivalence in their testing methodologies to the relevant accreditation body.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carnage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms.

At the request of the chief medical officer, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has agreed to work with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Pathologists to produce a working paper by the end of March 2013. This paper will address:

the availability and quality of GBS testing within NHS laboratories, requested by pregnant women and their healthcare professionals when there is a clinical indication to carry out such a test, including a proposed timetable for introduction; and

production of educational materials for health professionals to include details on the suitability of testing methodology, sample site selection and culture methods.

No assessment has been made by the Department of the effects of the 2012 update to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Prevention of early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease guidelines on rates of group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country. Latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011.

UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations (SMIs) are freely available from the HPA website. Laboratories can download and adapt the method into a standard operating procedure based on local policies. The SMIs are not mandatory and therefore the HPA does not know how many NHS laboratories use the method.

In using SMIs, laboratories should take account of local requirements and undertake additional investigations where appropriate. SMIs help laboratories to meet accreditation requirements by promoting high quality practices which are auditable. UK microbiology laboratories that do not use SMIs should be able to demonstrate at least equivalence in their testing methodologies to the relevant accreditation body.

Estimates of the early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) disease are included in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists revised Green-Top clinical guideline on the subject at:

www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/GTG36_GBS.pdf

The guideline identifies risk factors including: fever in labour, prolonged rupture of membranes at term, preterm births, positive GBS swab in a previous pregnancy and positive GBS swab in current pregnancy.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’, has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates, although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published their updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’, has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates, although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published their updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’, has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates, although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published their updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’, has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates, although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published their updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Heath Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’ has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the screening review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

The Department does not hold data on GBS infection in other countries and therefore no comparison has been made with the United States of America, Argentina, France, Kenya or Slovenia.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The Department has not made a comparative assessment on outcomes of routine and ad hoc detection of GBS in pregnant women.

Data on how many newborn babies suffered death or disability due to GBS infection in the last year and data on the three most common causes of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in each of the last five years is not routinely available.

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” which has already been placed in the Library, concluded that the most cost-effective strategy was shown to be the provision of routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis

to all women without prior screening, but, given broader concerns relating to antibiotic use, this was unlikely to be acceptable. The study concluded that screening at 35 to 37 weeks was more cost effective than the 2003 risk factor approach as long as all women delivering prematurely were treated with antibiotics in labour and the cost of the test did not rise by a small amount above the estimate used in the study's model. The 2003 risk factor approach became the more cost effective approach if either of these two provisos were not met.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’ has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the screening review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

The Department does not hold data on GBS infection in other countries and therefore no comparison has been made with the United States of America, Argentina, France, Kenya or Slovenia.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The Department has not made a comparative assessment on outcomes of routine and ad hoc detection of GBS in pregnant women.

Data on how many newborn babies suffered death or disability due to GBS infection in the last year and data on the three most common causes of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in each of the last five years is not routinely available.

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” which has already been placed in the Library, concluded that the most cost-effective strategy was shown to be the provision of routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis

to all women without prior screening, but, given broader concerns relating to antibiotic use, this was unlikely to be acceptable. The study concluded that screening at 35 to 37 weeks was more cost effective than the 2003 risk factor approach as long as all women delivering prematurely were treated with antibiotics in labour and the cost of the test did not rise by a small amount above the estimate used in the study's model. The 2003 risk factor approach became the more cost effective approach if either of these two provisos were not met.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, ‘Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy’ has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the screening review.

No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.

The Department does not hold data on GBS infection in other countries and therefore no comparison has been made with the United States of America, Argentina, France, Kenya or Slovenia.

No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.

In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.

The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:

the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;

development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;

including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and

monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.

The Department has not made a comparative assessment on outcomes of routine and ad hoc detection of GBS in pregnant women.

Data on how many newborn babies suffered death or disability due to GBS infection in the last year and data on the three most common causes of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in each of the last five years is not routinely available.

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” which has already been placed in the Library, concluded that the most cost-effective strategy was shown to be the provision of routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis

to all women without prior screening, but, given broader concerns relating to antibiotic use, this was unlikely to be acceptable. The study concluded that screening at 35 to 37 weeks was more cost effective than the 2003 risk factor approach as long as all women delivering prematurely were treated with antibiotics in labour and the cost of the test did not rise by a small amount above the estimate used in the study's model. The 2003 risk factor approach became the more cost effective approach if either of these two provisos were not met.