Group B Streptococcus Claims
Group B Streptococcus, often referred to as Group B Strep or GBS, is a common bacterium that many adults carry without symptoms. However, during pregnancy and childbirth, it can pose serious risks to newborn babies if not identified and managed appropriately.
When medical professionals fail to test for, diagnose or treat Group B Strep correctly, the consequences can be devastating. Babies can develop severe infections including sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia. In the most serious cases, this can lead to brain injury, long term disability or neonatal death.
If your baby has suffered harm due to negligent management of Group B Streptococcus, you may be entitled to make a medical negligence compensation claim.
At Nash & Co Solicitors, we support families in Plymouth, across Devon and Cornwall, and throughout England. We understand the emotional impact of neonatal infection and the uncertainty families face when avoidable mistakes occur. Our role is to investigate what happened and secure the financial support your child may need for the future.
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Group B Streptococcus, often called Group B Strep or GBS, is a bacterium that many adults carry without even realising it. In most cases it causes no problems at all. However, during pregnancy and childbirth it can sometimes be passed to a baby and, if not managed promptly, can lead to serious infection.
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Routine screening is not currently offered to all pregnant women on the NHS. However, there are certain situations where testing or preventative treatment should be considered. If risk factors were present and these were not properly assessed, it may be appropriate to investigate whether your care met accepted standards.
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If Group B Strep is detected, intravenous antibiotics during labour can significantly reduce the risk of the infection being passed to the baby. Where this step is missed or delayed without good reason, it can increase the risk of complications, and this may form the basis of a claim.
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In more serious cases, Group B Strep can lead to sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia in newborns. Some babies recover fully with prompt treatment. Others may experience long term effects such as brain injury, developmental delay or hearing loss. In the most heartbreaking circumstances, infection can lead to neonatal death.
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If the claim relates to your child, the usual three year time limit does not begin until their 18th birthday, which means there is time to investigate carefully. If you are unsure about time limits, we can explain how they apply to your specific circumstances.
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What is a Group B Streptococcus compensation claim?
A Group B Strep claim is a type of birth injury or medical negligence claim. It arises when healthcare professionals fail to act in accordance with accepted medical standards in relation to screening, diagnosis or treatment of GBS, and this failure causes harm.
Examples of negligent care may include:
Failure to recognise risk factors during pregnancy
Failure to offer appropriate testing
Failure to administer intravenous antibiotics during labour when indicated
Failure to monitor a newborn showing signs of infection
Delays in diagnosing neonatal sepsis
Failure to escalate concerns promptly
Not every case of Group B Strep infection is caused by negligence. However, where appropriate preventative steps were not taken, a claim may be possible.
Compensation can help fund specialist care, therapy, rehabilitation, adapted accommodation and long term support.
If you think this has happened to you, or you want to get in touch about the details of your situation, please contact our team of professional lawyers to see if you can make a claim.
Signs You May Have a Group B Strep Claim
Concerns around Group B Strep often arise when infection is not identified early enough or when symptoms are not taken seriously during pregnancy or after birth.
You may have a claim if:
You had risk factors for GBS that were not identified or acted upon
Testing for Group B Strep was not offered when it should have been
Symptoms of infection during pregnancy were missed or dismissed
Antibiotics were not given during labour when indicated
Signs of infection in your newborn were not recognised promptly
There were delays in treating sepsis or related complications
Your concerns about your baby’s condition were not properly investigated
In many cases, parents begin to question the care provided after their baby becomes seriously unwell or when they receive a diagnosis that could potentially have been avoided with earlier treatment.
How Much Compensation Could I Receive?
The value of a Group B Strep compensation claim depends on the severity of the infection and its impact on both the child and family.
Compensation may include:
Pain, suffering and emotional impact
Cost of medical treatment and ongoing care
Rehabilitation and therapy needs
Long-term support or specialist equipment
Financial losses, including time away from work
Future care requirements in more serious cases
Where a baby has been affected, compensation may also reflect long-term developmental or health needs. Each case is assessed individually, with careful attention to both current and future impact. We will ensure everything relevant to your situation is properly considered.
How do I Make a Group B Streptococcus Claim?
The process begins with a confidential discussion with our medical negligence team. We will review your account of events and obtain medical records relating to your pregnancy, labour and your baby’s treatment.
If negligence is established, we will calculate compensation based on your child’s long term needs and the wider impact on your family. Independent obstetric and neonatal experts will assess whether the care provided met acceptable standards and whether earlier intervention would have prevented the injury.
Throughout the process, we will guide you carefully and ensure you understand each stage.
Time Limits for Making a Group B Streptococcus Claim
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the negligent care or from when you first became aware that something may have gone wrong.
If a child has been affected, the time limit usually begins on their 18th birthday, meaning claims can often be brought much later during childhood.
Because Group B Strep cases can involve complex medical timelines, it is often helpful to seek advice early so that important evidence can be preserved and reviewed properly
Why choose Nash & Co Solicitors for Group B Streptococcus claim?
Group B Strep claims can involve complex medical evidence, particularly where neonatal brain injury or long term complications have occurred.
Our medical negligence solicitors have experience handling serious birth injury claims and work with respected independent experts across England. While we are based in Plymouth and regularly support families across Devon and Cornwall.
We understand that parents often struggle with many different feelings when their baby becomes seriously unwell. Our role is to provide clarity, reassurance and robust legal representation so that you can focus on your family.
Our client-first approach
When a newborn suffers infection due to delayed diagnosis or treatment, the emotional impact can be profound. Families often relive events repeatedly, questioning whether something more could have been done.
We approach every Group B Strep claim with sensitivity and professionalism. You will receive honest advice, realistic guidance and consistent communication throughout. Our priority is to reduce uncertainty and provide practical support while pursuing the compensation your child may need.
Additional Support
We understand that concerns about Group B Strep often arise during what should be an already sensitive and important time in a family’s life. When things go wrong, the impact can be both emotionally and physically overwhelming.
Our Medical Negligence team offers a free, no-obligation consultation where you can speak with a member of the team in a supportive and understanding environment.
We handle Group B Strep claims on a no win, no fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no financial risk in exploring your options.
If your claim is successful, we may also be able to secure interim payments to help with treatment, care or specialist support while the case progresses.
If you would like to find out whether you can make a Group B Streptococcus compensation claim, we are here to listen and guide you through the next steps at your own pace.
Group B Streptococcus Claims FAQs
Below, we have addressed the most commonly asked questions about Group B Streptococcus claims and compensation.
If you have any other questions that aren't answered here, don't hesitate to contact us.
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Neonatal sepsis can develop quickly, and it is not always the result of negligence. However, if there were warning signs that were not recognised, or if treatment was delayed when infection was suspected, it may be appropriate to investigate whether earlier action could have prevented harm. We can carefully review the medical records and obtain expert advice to help you understand what happened.
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Many parents tell us they felt something was not right before their baby became seriously unwell. If concerns were raised and not properly assessed or acted upon, and this contributed to a delay in treatment, this can form part of a medical negligence case. Your recollection of events is important, and we will take the time to listen.
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In severe cases, Group B Strep infection can affect the brain, particularly if treatment is not given promptly. This can sometimes lead to long term neurological injury. Every situation is different, and independent medical experts are needed to determine whether earlier intervention would have changed the outcome.
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Compensation is designed to provide practical and financial support for the future. This may include specialist care, therapy, equipment, adapted accommodation, educational support and, where relevant, loss of earnings. The aim is to ensure that your child’s long term needs are properly met.
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Bringing a claim does not affect your right to NHS care. We understand that families often worry about this, particularly when ongoing treatment is needed, but your child’s care will not be impacted by pursuing a claim.
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These cases can take time because they require detailed medical investigation and expert evidence. In more serious cases, particularly those involving brain injury, it is important to fully assess long term needs before settlement. Where possible, we seek interim payments to help families access support sooner.
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If negligent care contributed to a neonatal death, it may be possible to bring a claim on behalf of your child’s estate. We recognise how deeply distressing these cases are and approach them with sensitivity, respect and care at every stage.
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The first step is to have a confidential conversation with our medical negligence team. We will listen carefully, review the circumstances and explain whether there may be grounds for a claim, along with what the next steps would involve.
If you’d like to speak to our team, you can call us on 01752 827085.
Get in Touch
As one of the top law firms in Plymouth, we make four promises to you that shape our everyday job to deliver exceptional client service and positive outcomes.
We are transparent about costs
We'll keep things simple and understandable
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Rest assured, whatever medical negligence issue you're facing, we'll do our best to help you.
Give us a ring or fill in our form below to speak to a member of our team today, and get the answers you need to make your claim.
If your enquiry is urgent then please call us on 01752 827085.