Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has taken to inform (a) relevant health professionals and (b) pregnant women of the symptoms and prevention of group B streptococcus infections in babies; [21082]

(2) what guidelines his Department issues to NHS trusts on preventing Group B Streptococcal infection in newborn babies. [21098]

Anne Milton MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State: Current guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists is provided by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which published its Green-top guideline No. 36 on the prevention of early-onset neonatal Group B Streptococcus disease in November 2003. In 2005, the RCOG, in collaboration with the National Screening Committee, established a national audit to evaluate practice in United Kingdom obstetric units against the recommendations of the guideline. The audit published in January 2007, reported that current practice followed the established patterns of care described in the RCOG guideline.

The Department supports the Standards for Maternity Care published by the RCOG in 2008, which state that maternity services should comply with evidence-based guidelines for the provision of high-quality clinical care.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines for routine antenatal care, published in 2008, recommends that pregnant women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus because evidence of its clinical and cost-effectiveness remains uncertain.

Information for women on Group B Streptococcus is contained in "The Pregnancy Book"-a guide to a healthy pregnancy, labour and childbirth, and life with a new baby, which is given to all pregnant women. Information is also available on the NHS Direct website at:

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

and NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk

Women who are concerned about Group B Streptococcus infection are advised to talk to their doctor or midwife.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken by his Department to increase levels of compliance with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guidelines on preventing Group B Streptococcal infection in newborn babies; [21097]

(2) what guidance his Department issues to health professionals on implementation in maternity units of the guidelines issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for preventing Group B Streptococcus infection in newborn babies. [21100]

Anne Milton: We encourage the national health service to take into account the guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists provided by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which published its Green-top guideline No.36 on the prevention of early-onset neonatal Group B Streptococcal disease in November 2003. In 2005, the RCOG, in collaboration with the National Screening Committee, established a national audit to evaluate practice in United Kingdom obstetric units against the recommendations of the guideline. The audit published in January 2007, reported that current practice followed the established patterns of care described in the RCOG guideline.

The Department supports the Standards for Maternity Care published by the RCOG in 2008, which state that maternity services should comply with evidence-based guidelines for the provision of high-quality clinical care.

Streptococcus: Pregnancy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he uses to ensure that high-quality information on group B streptococcus is given to all pregnant women as a routine part of their antenatal care; [21083]

(2) if he will take steps to ensure that pregnant women are informed about Group B Streptococcus as part of their antenatal care. [21101]

Anne Milton: Information for women about Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is contained in 'the Pregnancy Book'-a guide to healthy pregnancy, labour and childbirth, and life with a new baby, which is given to all pregnant women. Information is also available on the NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk and NHS Choices www.nhs.uk websites. Women who are concerned about GBS infection are advised to talk to their doctor or midwife.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to strategic health authorities on the provision of tests to pregnant women for Group B Streptococcus infection. [21099]

Anne Milton: The Department does not issue guidance to strategic health authorities on the provision of tests to pregnant women for group B streptococcus (GBS) infection.

Current guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists is provided by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), which published its Green-top guideline No. 36 on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease in November 2003.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines for routine antenatal care, published in 2008, recommends that pregnant women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for GBS because evidence of its clinical and cost effectiveness remains uncertain.