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Group B streptococcus, also known as group B strep or GBS, is the most common cause of severe infection suffered by babies in their first week of life. Group B strep infection is a risk factor in many pregnancies, and mothers with group B strep must be carefully managed during pregnancy to reduce the risk of harm to their baby. If incorrectly treated, group B strep infection can lead to life-threatening meningitis and septicaemia.
Our brain injury solicitors understand group B strep infection, meningitis, cerebral palsy and neurological disability and are experts at securing compensation for children who have been injured by negligent maternity and neonatal care.
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For more than 30 years, Boyes Turner's medical negligence solicitors have guided families of severely injured children through the claims process to secure the compensation and specialist support that they need to manage their child’s disability and meet their lifelong needs.
You can contact us by telephone or by email for free, confidential advice from a medical negligence solicitor. We will ask you to tell us briefly about your child’s injury and medical care, and advise you about any time limits which may apply and whether we can help you investigate your claim. Once our investigations confirm you have grounds for a claim, we will notify the defendant healthcare provider (usually represented by NHS Resolution) on your behalf and invite them to respond, giving them an opportunity to admit liability (responsibility for your injuries) before court proceedings are issued.
If liability is admitted, we will obtain a judgment from the court and apply for a substantial interim payment to meet your needs arising from your injury and disability. If NHS Resolution deny liability, we will advise you about the best way to proceed with your claim. This may involve issuing court proceedings or inviting NHS Resolution to enter into settlement negotiations or mediation.
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At all times we felt guided, supported and encouraged that we were doing the best for our son and it is a credit to your dedication and professionalism that, following the outcome of claim, we have now in fact have secured that future for our son.
I can not speak more highly of Boyes Turner, the members of staff who we worked with went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and constantly up to date with everything. We were never made to feel silly for asking questions and they were always at the end of a phone or email. I would recommend Boyes Turner to anyone who needs help with a medical negligence case.
I cannot thank Julie Marsh and the team at Boyes Turner enough for taking on my case, believing in me and my claim and tirelessly fighting my corner for a positive outcome. My case was handled with personal care, up most professionalism and attention throughout. I was always kept up to date with progress, felt valued and heard. I highly recommend and I am eternally grateful.
Boyes Turner managed my fathers compensation settlement case as a result of failings in care. This was a very difficult situation for our family and Boyes Turner managed the whole process with complete professionalism and compassion. If you are unfortunate enough to require similar assistance I would highly recommend their team. The case was closed with an out of court settlement, we received a letter of apology alongside reassurances that lessons would be learnt which was of particular importance to us.
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Group B strep or GBS is a bacterial infection that is carried by 40% of the (male and female) adult population. Around one fifth (20%) of women carry GBS in their vagina or bowel. Group B strep infection is usually harmless, so those who carry the infection are often unaware. During pregnancy, it is more important for a woman to know if she is carrying group B strep as the infection can be dangerous for her baby.
During pregnancy and childbirth, the baby can become infected with group B strep, either from picking up the infection in their mother’s uterus (womb) or during delivery. Pregnant women who carry group B strep need careful management in pregnancy and labour. This includes prompt antibiotic treatment of any signs of infection, such as urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy. They should also receive antibiotics during labour and birth to reduce their baby’s risk of early-onset GBS infection.
When a baby picks up group B strep from their mother during pregnancy or birth, they usually start to show signs of infection within the first seven days of life. This is known as ‘early-onset’ neonatal group B strep. Babies can also develop what is known as ‘late-onset’ group B strep infection after the first week of their life, usually from exposure to other sources of infection.
Approximately 1 in every 1750 newborn babies in the UK and Ireland is diagnosed with early-onset group B streptococcus infection. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most babies with group B strep recover, but delays in treatment can lead to death or long-term disability from sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis.
Newborn babies have a higher risk of group B strep infection if:
Newborn babies with high risk of GBS infection must be carefully monitored in hospital after birth.
A baby who has early-onset neonatal group B strep infection usually shows one or more of the following signs and symptoms within 12 hours of birth:
Group B strep infection is dangerous to newborn babies because their immune systems are undeveloped. Early-onset group B strep infection must be diagnosed and treated immediately for the best chance of a full recovery.
Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to life-threatening complications, such as:
These serious conditions can lead to the baby’s death or permanent disability from brain injury, cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness or serious learning disability.
If a newborn baby develops group B strep infection, they must receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics urgently in hospital. They will also undergo tests to confirm the infection, such as blood tests or lumbar puncture (to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid).
Antibiotics should start within one hour of the treatment decision. Any delay in diagnosis and treatment can cause life-threatening injury or permanent disability.
Screening is not routinely offered to pregnant women in the UK.
In most cases, a pregnant woman who is known to carry group B strep will be monitored closely during pregnancy. She may be given antibiotics during pregnancy if she develops a GBS urine infection, if her waters break before 37 weeks of pregnancy or if she is having a caesarean section, and she will be offered antibiotics when she is in labour.
Some pregnant women choose to undergo GBS screening privately, so that they know if they are carrying group B strep infection and can ensure that they receive antibiotic treatment during their labour and the birth of their baby.
If a child has been severely injured as a result of negligent maternity or neonatal GBS care we can help their family secure substantial compensation to meet their child’s lifelong needs arising from their disability.
Common mistakes in maternity or neonatal group B strep care which lead to injury and group B strep negligence claims include:
Our clients’ compensation settlements are carefully calculated to reflect the client’s injury and disability, and then negotiated and structured to make the best provision to meet their lifelong needs. Depending on the circumstances of the case, we are often able to secure substantial interim payments whilst the case is still ongoing, to provide early help with care and support, therapies and specialist equipment, and home adaptations or the child and family’s move to more suitable accommodation.
Compensation settlements in group B strep negligence claims arising from severe disability often include payments for:
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