Group B Strep Claims
Group B streptococcus (GBS, or group B strep) is a common bacterium found in around 20-40% of adults, often with no symptoms. However, it can be extremely dangerous for newborn babies if passed on during childbirth. Some babies are particularly vulnerable to infection by group B streptococcus around the time of birth. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, group B strep can lead to life-threatening complications, including sepsis and meningitis.
In some cases, a baby may die or experience lifelong disabilities as a result of a group B strep infection that could have been prevented if doctors, midwives or other professionals had provided the right care. If you or your baby has suffered harm due to medical negligence involving group B strep, you may be entitled to compensation.
Our birth injury team at JMW has extensive experience helping parents and families make group B streptococcus compensation claims. We understand how distressing this experience can be, and we are here to guide you with clear advice and supportive care throughout the process. Making a claim can help you secure the financial resources you need for your child’s ongoing care and can highlight failings in the care they received, allowing lessons to be learned for the future.
To speak to a solicitor about your situation with no obligation, please call us on 0345 872 6666, or by completing our contact form and we will get back to you. Our solicitors are able to take on cases on a no win, no fee basis.
On This Page
- What Our Clients Say
- How JMW Can Help
- Meet Our Team
- Zac's Story: How JMW Helped
- What Is Group B Streptococcus?
- Who Is at Risk From Group B Strep?
- Can Contracting Group B Strep Be Seen as Medical Negligence?
- Am I Eligible to Make a Group B Strep Medical Negligence Claim?
- How Can Making a Group B Strep Claim Help My Family?
- Our Partnership with Group B Strep Support
- FAQs About Group B Strep Compensation Claims
What Our Clients Say
How JMW Can Help
Our clinical negligence team, led by Eddie Jones, specialises in antenatal injuries such as group B streptococcus negligence claims, and we have supported many families who have experienced the devastating impact of group B strep infections. We understand how difficult this time can be, and we will handle your group B strep claim with sensitivity, respect and compassion from start to finish.
When you bring a group B streptococcus compensation claim with JMW, we will work closely with you to gather evidence, liaise with independent medical experts, and build a strong case. Compensation can help you cover the cost of therapies, adaptations to your home, specialist disability equipment, and any loss of earnings if you have had to stop working to care for your child.
Members of our team belong to the Law Society’s specialist panel of clinical negligence solicitors and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors panel, so you can be confident your claim is in the hands of experienced and respected professionals. We have many years of experience bringing claims against both NHS trusts and private healthcare providers for medical negligence involving group B streptococcus misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
We are also proud to be partnered with the charity Group B Strep Support, which provides valuable information and resources for families. Nicola Wainwright, one of our partners, specialises in group B strep claims and has a long track record of achieving positive outcomes for families affected by negligent care.
Meet Our Team of Medical Negligence Experts
The medical negligence solicitors at JMW are among the most respected in the UK thanks to their professional and proactive approach.
Zac’s Story: How JMW Helped His Family Seek Justice
When baby Zac developed breathing difficulties shortly after birth, his parents’ concerns were downplayed. By the time the seriousness of the situation was recognised, Zac had developed a fatal group B strep infection, which could have been treated if addressed earlier.
With support from JMW’s Nicola Wainwright, Zac’s parents Tim and Hannah were able to have these errors recognised by a coroner’s investigation, and are now sharing their experiences to help raise awareness and push for change.
Read the full video transcript and learn more about Zac’s story.
What Is Group B Streptococcus?
Group B streptococcus, often called group B strep or GBS, is a common type of bacteria carried by between 20% to 40% of UK adults, most commonly in the gut and in the vagina. Many people who live with GBS will never experience any symptoms or complications. However, during pregnancy and birth, group B strep can be passed to a baby and lead to serious infection if not identified and treated properly.
For newborn babies, group B strep infection can cause conditions such as sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. These can develop very quickly in the hours and days after birth, and early diagnosis is essential. If there are known risk factors - for example, if a mother has previously had a baby with GBS, or if GBS has been detected during pregnancy - midwives and doctors should take steps to reduce the risk of infection.
You can read more about group B strep on the NHS website.
Who Is at Risk From Group B Strep?
Many babies come into contact with group B strep during labour or around birth, and it causes no issues in most cases, but UK figures suggest that about 1 in 1,600 of all babies born develops a GBS infection. This likelihood rises among known carriers of GBS; about 1 in every 400 babies born to women who carry GBS go on to develop a GBS infection.
The risk increases in certain situations, such as:
- When GBS has been found during the current pregnancy.
- If GBS has caused an infection in a previous baby.
- When labour starts before 37 weeks (premature birth).
- If the waters have broken more than 18 hours before birth.
- When the mother develops a high temperature during labour.
Babies who develop group B strep infection can become unwell extremely quickly, which is why healthcare professionals must recognise these risk factors and act promptly. Giving intravenous antibiotics during labour can greatly reduce the chances of the baby developing a serious infection.
GBS infection can also occur in adults, usually among those with serious underlying medical conditions impacting their immune system. These can include:
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Meningitis
- Bone infections
- Deep eye infections
You can find out more about how group B strep may affect you by visiting the GBSS website.
Can Contracting Group B Strep Be Seen as Medical Negligence?
Not every case of group B strep infection happens because of failings in care. However, there are situations where a group B strep claim may arise if healthcare professionals did not follow the right procedures to protect a patient from harm.
Examples of when group B streptococcus negligence claims can occur include:
- Failing to screen or assess risk factors for pregnant women
- Not offering antibiotics during labour when there were clear indicators, such as GBS being found in a previous baby or during the current pregnancy
- Missing early signs that a baby had developed an infection after birth, such as unusual breathing, feeding difficulties or drowsiness/lethargy
- Delays in providing urgent treatment once an infection was suspected
These failures may result in early or late-onset GBS infection, which can cause:
- Sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Brain injury
- Cerebral palsy
- Stillbirth or neonatal death
When doctors, midwives or other professionals do not recognise or act on the known risks of group B strep, and a baby is harmed as a result, this may be classed as medical negligence. Bringing a group B streptococcus compensation claim can help families secure the support they need and highlight where care fell short.
Am I Eligible to Make a Group B Strep Medical Negligence Claim?
If your child has been harmed by a group B strep infection that you believe could have been prevented with proper care, you may be eligible to bring a group B strep claim.
You can usually make a claim if:
- Medical professionals did not identify clear risk factors for group B streptococcus
- Antibiotics were not given when they should have been
- There were delays in diagnosing or treating an infection in your baby
- The failings in care led to serious injury, long-term disability or death
Parents are able to bring a group B streptococcus negligence claim on behalf of their child at any time until the child turns 18. After this, your child usually has until their 21st birthday to start a claim themselves. In some situations, different time limits apply - for example, if a parent or child lacks mental capacity to bring a claim, there may be no time limit at all.
If you are unsure about your eligibility, our solicitors will talk through your situation with you in detail and advise on the best way forward. We know that taking the first step can feel overwhelming, but we will explain everything clearly and help you progress your claim with confidence.
How Can Making a Group B Strep Claim Help My Family?
Bringing a group B streptococcus compensation claim is about more than recognising where care fell short. It can help secure vital support and financial stability for your child and family both now and in the years ahead.
Compensation can help with:
- Ongoing therapy and rehabilitation to improve your child’s quality of life
- Specialist equipment and aids to support mobility, learning or communication
- Adaptations to your home to make daily life safer and more comfortable
- Care costs and the expense of support workers if your child needs additional help
- Loss of earnings if you have had to leave work or reduce your hours to provide care
Making a claim can also help you gain answers about what happened, and highlight issues in care so that other families do not have to go through the same experience.
Our team of medical negligence solicitors understands how sensitive these cases are, and we will guide you with care and professionalism at every stage.
Our Partnership with Group B Strep Support
Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is the world’s leading charity dedicated to the eradication of group B streptococcus infection in babies. Founded in 1996 by Jane Plumb after her own family was affected by group B strep infection, GBSS plays a vital role in raising awareness, providing information, supporting families, and campaigning for improvements to healthcare policies and practices across the UK.
GBSS recognises JMW for the real impact we make for families who have been affected by group B strep infection, both locally and nationally. We are proud to be part of the GBSS Legal Panel - a carefully selected group of trusted legal partners who share a commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate advice. All the solicitors on the Legal Panel hold accreditation with the Law Society, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and/or the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and have a proven record of successful clinical negligence claims involving GBS.
At JMW, we also work in partnership with GBSS to raise awareness of group B strep and to make sure families can access the information and support they need. Our partner Nicola Wainwright, who specialises in group B strep claims, has worked closely with GBSS for many years to help families secure answers and compensation after avoidable harm.
FAQs About Group B Strep Compensation Claims
- When do group B streptococcus infections become apparent?
Group B streptococcus infections are most common in newborn babies during their first few days after birth, but they can still develop later. To reflect this, infections are often divided into two categories: early-onset and late-onset.
- Early-onset group B strep infection happens in babies up to seven days old. This is the most common type and affects around 1 in every 1,750 babies in the UK and Ireland. Of the babies who develop an early-onset infection, about 1 in 19 will die, and 1 in 14 of those who survive will have a long-term physical or mental disability.
- Late-onset group B strep infection occurs in babies older than seven days, up to three months of age. It affects about 1 in every 2,700 babies. Although it is less common, the risks are more serious - about 1 in 13 babies with a late-onset infection will die, and 1 in 8 of those who survive will experience long-term disability.
In very rare cases, individuals can develop a group B strep infection beyond three months of age. Prompt recognition and treatment of symptoms at any stage are essential to reduce the risk of severe complications.
- What are the symptoms of group B streptococcus?
If a group B streptococcus infection was not identified during pregnancy, healthcare professionals should monitor your baby closely after birth. In most cases, signs of early-onset infection appear within the first 12 hours. Babies with group B strep infection often show one or more of the following symptoms:
- Excessive sleepiness or being difficult to wake
- Floppiness or low muscle tone
- Grunting or making unusual noises while breathing
- Poor feeding or refusing feeds
- A very high or low temperature
- Abnormally fast or slow heart rate or breathing rate
- Irritability or inconsolable crying
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood sugar levels
These symptoms are medical emergencies and require immediate assessment and treatment. If you ever have concerns about your baby’s health, you should seek urgent medical advice.
- Can I claim for somebody else?
Parents can bring a group B strep claim on behalf of their child if the infection has caused harm. You can also act for someone who does not have the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, such as a child who has been left with a severe brain injury. If you are unsure who should start the claim, our solicitors will explain your options clearly and help you decide on the best approach.
- Can I claim against my GP?
You may be able to bring a claim against your GP if they did not recognise obvious symptoms of infection in your baby, failed to consider known risk factors, or delayed arranging hospital treatment. These delays can have serious consequences because group B strep infection progresses quickly. If you believe your GP’s care fell below acceptable standards, we can assess the details of what happened and advise whether you have grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim.
- Can I make a medical negligence claim against the NHS?
Many group B streptococcus claims are brought against NHS trusts and hospitals when standards of care are not met. These claims might relate to failures in screening, not offering antibiotics when needed, or delays in recognising and treating an infection. JMW has extensive experience bringing medical negligence group B strep claims against NHS organisations, and we will handle every step of the process for you with care and professionalism.
You can find out more about how to claim against the NHS.
- Will I have to go to court?
Most group B streptococcus compensation claims are settled without the need for a court hearing, and by working with a specialist medical negligence solicitor, you will usually be able to agree a settlement without reaching this stage. If your case does go to court, it will be because it is necessary to resolve issues that cannot be agreed through negotiation. In these cases, we will prepare everything for you, represent you robustly and ensure you feel fully supported and informed throughout the process.
- What are the time limits on making a group B strep negligence claim?
For adults, the general time limit to make a claim is three years from the date you became aware that negligent care caused harm. For children, you can bring a claim on their behalf at any point up until their 18th birthday. After that, they usually have until their 21st birthday to start their own claim. There are different rules if a person does not have the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, which may mean no time limit applies. If you are unsure about deadlines, it is best to speak to a solicitor as soon as possible so you do not lose your chance to claim.
Talk To Us
If your child has been harmed by a group B streptococcus infection and you believe the right care was not provided, we are here to help you work through what has happened. Speak to JMW’s specialist medical negligence team about making a group B strep claim by calling us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form to request a call back.
