§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the costs and benefits of group B Streptococcal screening. [158783]
§ Dr. LadymanThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence recently published a Clinical Guideline on Routine Antenatal Care, which recommends that pregnant women should not be offered routine antenatal screening for group B streptococcus (GBS), because evidence that it will do more good than harm is uncertain.
The UK National Screening Committee is currently reviewing the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies. As part of its work programme, it has asked the 1448W National Co-ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment to commission research in this area and detailed proposals are being developed.