Group B Strep Support (GBSS)

Group B Strep Support (GBSS) UK charity, formed in 1996 and supported by an expert medical advisory panel, working to stop group B Strep infection in babies.
(260)

Leading UK charity working to stop life-threatening group B Strep infection in babies.

📢 Raising Awareness
đź“š Improving Knowledge
❤️ Providing Support
🔬 Promoting Research
đź’Ş Pushing for change

For support and information, go to www.gbss.org.uk

Yesterday, GBSS attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Baby Loss to contribute to discussions shaping thei...
03/03/2026

Yesterday, GBSS attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Baby Loss to contribute to discussions shaping their submission to the National Maternity & Neonatal Investigation. The meeting was chaired by Andy McNae MP, alongside vice-chair Michelle Walsh MP.

We heard from families who shared their experiences of baby loss and what might have made a difference in their care. Their honesty underlines why meaningful change is so urgently needed.

We raised a key concern we hear time and again: the complexity of maternity and neonatal guidelines. With multiple bodies, including NICE and the RCOG, alongside local Trusts and hospitals, guidance can be confusing and conflicting. We believe clearer, streamlined national recommendations would improve safety and reduce risk.

We also highlighted the need for transparency and better communication. Families usually come to us seeking answers, not legal action. They deserve open, honest information about their and their babies' care without having to fight for it.

We were encouraged to stand alongside charities, health professionals and families all calling for compassionate care, greater openness and action to address inequalities in maternity and neonatal services, including systemic and structural racism. Collaboration is the only way lasting change will happen.

There is still much work to do, but conversations like these are an important step forward.

Are you a seasoned fundraising pro looking for an opportunity to give back and make a real difference? Group B Strep Sup...
01/03/2026

Are you a seasoned fundraising pro looking for an opportunity to give back and make a real difference? Group B Strep Support is recruiting a Trustee with experience in income generation and fundraising to join our Board.

By becoming a Trustee, you’ll play a vital role in helping save babies’ lives and supporting families affected by group B Strep 💕 This is a voluntary role, open to UK residents only.

đź”— More info & apply: https://gbss.org.uk/about/jobs/

For enquiries:
📧 jane.plumb@gbss.org.uk
đź“ž 0330 120 0795

Hi there, we are the Vollans family.We started our journey to becoming parents later in life. After two miscarriages and...
28/02/2026

Hi there, we are the Vollans family.

We started our journey to becoming parents later in life. After two miscarriages and complications in pregnancy, we were overjoyed to welcome Joseph on 13 March 2014. After an emergency caesarean and a few scary days in NICU, we finally came home, hoping the hardest part was behind us.

Six weeks later, everything changed. Joseph wouldn’t settle, went limp, and spiked a high temperature. Mother’s instinct told me something was very wrong. We drove straight to A&E at Royal Derby Hospital. The next nine days were the most traumatic of our lives. Joseph was diagnosed with group B Strep meningitis and treated with intravenous antibiotics. Thanks to the incredible paediatric team and getting help quickly, he pulled through.

During that time, a family member found Group B Strep Support. Their team answered our calls and emails and helped us through the darkest moments. Later, we learned how common carrying group B Strep is and how a simple test and timely antibiotics can protect newborn babies from serious infection.

That’s why we still support GBSS today. This March, our whole family is taking on 100 Squats a Day to raise awareness and funds so other families get the information and support they need, when they need it.

Will you join us? Signup takes just a minute, and you can squat at home, at the gym or on the go. Your way, your pace. As a thank you, you’ll receive a FREE GBSS T-shirt once you get your first donation, and there are extra milestones to aim for as you fundraise.

👉 Sign up here: https://socialsync.app/flw/rf-kx54m27krnvd

Thank you for reading our story.

Janice, Julian and Joseph

In the UK, group B Strep information is not given out routinely in pregnancy.If you’re pregnant, ask your midwife about ...
27/02/2026

In the UK, group B Strep information is not given out routinely in pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant, ask your midwife about group B Strep. Getting the conversation started could help you take steps to protect your baby from potentially life-threatening group B Strep infection.

Learn more at gbss.org.uk

We have a new awareness opportunity coming up and would like to hear from families whose baby was affected by late-onset...
26/02/2026

We have a new awareness opportunity coming up and would like to hear from families whose baby was affected by late-onset group B Strep infection.

We’d like to hear from you if:
• Your baby had confirmed group B Strep sepsis
• Symptoms started after going home from hospital
• You contacted NHS 111 and/or an ambulance

If all of these apply to you and you'd be happy sharing your experience to help us raise awareness, please send us a private message (or comment on this post) and we’ll share more details.

Thank you for your support

❗📢 Submit your abstract for the Group B Strep in Pregnancy & Babies Virtual Conference 2026.All accepted abstracts will ...
26/02/2026

❗📢 Submit your abstract for the Group B Strep in Pregnancy & Babies Virtual Conference 2026.

All accepted abstracts will be published FREE of charge (usual APC: $3,000) in Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, the SAGE peer-reviewed gold open access journal.

Deadline fast approaching - submit before Sunday 8 March 2026 at 23:59 GMT: bit.ly/GBSAbstracts26

Hi there, I’m Kieran 👋❗ A quick content warning as my message talks about baby loss.When I was 19 years old, I became a ...
25/02/2026

Hi there, I’m Kieran 👋

âť— A quick content warning as my message talks about baby loss.

When I was 19 years old, I became a dad for the first time. I wasn’t expecting it, neither of us were, but out of the blue, our daughter Emma was born. She didn’t live very long. She had an infection called group B Strep. Losing her was incredibly traumatic for both of us, and for everyone around us.

A couple of years later, when our next daughter, Dharma, was born, I learned more about how Emma had died. There were bright yellow stickers all over the midwife's notes that said GBS, and I finally asked what it meant. Until then, I only knew Emma had died from an infection.

It's been 28 years since Emma was born. I still don’t talk about her much, though I talk to her often. I think about who she might have been, how her sisters would have looked up to her, and what her talents might have been. Even though she wasn’t with us for long, I was a dad, and I’ve always called myself a dad.

I'm sharing this now because, after nearly three decades, I've realised I need to talk about it and more importantly, I finally feel ready to.

I’m also taking part in the 100 Squats a Day in March challenge to help raise awareness and support the vital work that helps protect babies from group B Strep infection. It would mean a lot to have you alongside me in in joining this challenge, here is the link: https://socialsync.app/flw/rf-kx54m27krnvd.

From
Kieran

If you have just tested for group B Strep carriage, whatever the result, do get in touch.Group B Strep Support offers fr...
24/02/2026

If you have just tested for group B Strep carriage, whatever the result, do get in touch.

Group B Strep Support offers free support and information to help you understand what you need know about group B Strep.

Go to gbss.org.uk

đź‘‹ Hello everyone. I am posting this message from Nairobi, Kenya, where Group B Strep Support is proudly taking the stage...
23/02/2026

👋 Hello everyone. I am posting this message from Nairobi, Kenya, where Group B Strep Support is proudly taking the stage at , the global conference on group B Strep. It’s incredible to see experts, families, and advocates from around the world coming together to raise awareness and drive change for GBS prevention.

This morning, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Welcome Ceremony and on Wednesday, Oliver Plumb, our Information and Advocacy Manager, will be chairing the Advocacy Workshop where I will be speaking on how to elevate parents’ voices in advocacy work ✨

We’re so inspired by the passion and dedication here, and in such a pivotal year for GBSS. We can’t wait to bring back new knowledge, connections, and momentum to strengthen our campaigning 💪

With best wishes from Nairobi
Jane Plumb MBE FRCOG
Chief Executive, Group B Strep Support

ISSAD.org Group B Strep International

22/02/2026

✨🏋️‍♀️ It’s not too late to join our 100 Squats a Day in March challenge. Simply complete a short signup form and you’ll be sent your very own fundraising page to share with friends and family today! ✨🏋️‍♀️

Get started: https://ow.ly/hgwA50Yh16Q

This year, the National Screening Committee will review its stance on group B Strep screening once the results of the GB...
21/02/2026

This year, the National Screening Committee will review its stance on group B Strep screening once the results of the GBS3 Trial are published (expected in the Spring).

The trial compares testing versus the current risk-based approach to prevent GBS infection in newborns. We’re hopeful this could lead to national policy change, and we need YOU with us to make it happen.

We’ve got major plans: parliamentary debates, MP letters, petitions. Your support will drive real change. Sign up for email updates to stay informed and get involved:
https://gbss.org.uk/email-newsletter/

"Group B Strep testing and information should be offered to everyone in pregnancy, so nobody goes through the heartbreak...
20/02/2026

"Group B Strep testing and information should be offered to everyone in pregnancy, so nobody goes through the heartbreaking shock we did!"

Kirsten recently reached out to share her experience after nearly losing her daughter, Myla, at just 3 weeks old to late-onset group B Strep meningitis. Group B Strep was never mentioned to Kirsten during her pregnancy.

"Nobody had told us about group B Strep until Myla became so poorly, we nearly lost her. She has now lost two-thirds of her hearing in one ear due to the meningitis.”

All new and expectant parents should be told about group B Strep so they can take steps to protect their baby.

Thank you Kirsten for sharing your experience.

Address

JYW House, Bridge Road
Haywards Heath
RH161UA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+443301200796

Website

https://linktr.ee/gbss

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Group B Strep Support (GBSS) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category