Slater and Gordon show backing for Group B Strep Awareness Month

On the 19th of July, hundreds of our colleagues attended a training session via Teams by Jane Plumb MBE who is the Chief Executive and co-founder of Group B Strep Support.

Our in-house litigation midwives, Helen Stanley and Kim Burns also contributed to the presentation from our Manchester office where many colleagues gathered to watch. Helen and Kim shared their professional insight into the condition having recently attended the Group B Strep in Pregnancy and Babies Annual Conference.

Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria, that can affect both men and women, in the majority of cases, the bacteria isn’t harmful to health adults, but it can be quite dangerous for pregnant people, and new-born babies.

Group B Strep is one of the most common causes of severe infection in new-born babies, and if not diagnosed and treated properly, GBS can cause serious developmental issues, and in some cases, can be fatal. It’s the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK, and of meningitis in babies under three months old.

In the UK and Ireland, around 66 babies are diagnosed with GBS infection monthly. Among them, 56 infants recover fully, six endure long-term physical or mental disabilities, and four sadly lose their lives due to GBS infection each month. In rare cases, GBS can also lead to intrauterine infections, resulting in stillbirth.

We act and support families who've been affected by GBS through our relationship with Group B Strep Support, with the help of our midwives and our medical negligence solicitors. This includes Principal Lawyer, Laura Preston, is a member of the charity’s legal expert panel.

Jane spoke about how her own personal tragedy inspired her to start the charity in 1996. Jane’s middle child died from the infection at just 17.5 hours old. Jane and her husband formed Group B Strep Support to try and prevent other families from going through the same experience.

Although harmless to most people, for a new-born, the infection can be devastating; it’s the most common cause of severe infection in new-born babies in the UK, and can cause meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia.

Jane explained how different countries across the world were trying to deal with the condition and how she dreamt of a day when there would be a vaccine available.

As well as talking to staff, Helen and Jane sold cupcakes and sweet cones in the Manchester office – all in blue and yellow, the brand colours of Group B Strep Support – to help raise funds for the charity.

Our Sheffield office are also holding a bake sale, colleagues are encouraged to wear something blue and/or yellow and make a donation to our Just Giving Group B Strep support page.

Colleagues in our Cardiff office are staging a lunchtime quiz and raffle with colleagues elsewhere able to join online.

Also, several colleagues at our London Office are taking part in the 100k My Way Challenge to raise money for the charity. Participants can swim, walk, run or cycle 100k - or maybe a combination of all those and you can make a donation here.

To find out more about Group B Strep, visit the support group’s website.

How we can help

If you or your baby have been affected by GBS and you believe that the care you received was substandard, please contact Laura Preston at ljpreston@slatergordon.co.uk. You can read about one of our clients whose case we are currently work on here.