Group B Streptococcus in New-Borns
If your baby has suffered harm because medical professionals failed to properly diagnose or treat a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection, you may be entitled to significant compensation. GBS infections in newborns can cause devastating consequences when not identified and treated promptly. At The Medical Law Partnership, we understand the profound impact this can have on your family, and we're here to help you secure the justice and financial support you need to care for your child.
How common are errors in Group B Streptococcus infections diagnosis?
GBS remains a leading cause of serious infection in newborns, yet diagnostic errors still occur with troubling frequency. Many parents tell us their concerns about their newborn’s health were initially dismissed as normal newborn behaviour, only for their baby to become critically ill hours or days later. Current NHS guidelines recommend specific protocols for identifying at-risk mothers and monitoring newborns for early signs of infection, but these aren’t always followed correctly. If your baby developed a GBS infection that wasn’t detected when it should have been, you’re not alone in this experience. We’ve helped many families in similar situations hold healthcare providers accountable for these preventable failures.
Some of the frequent failures we see include maternity staff not properly screening mothers with known risk factors like previous GBS-affected pregnancy, maternal fever during labour, or premature rupture of membranes. For newborns, common errors include medical staff dismissing early warning signs like poor feeding, abnormal temperature, or unusual crying as normal newborn variation rather than potential infection symptoms. We’ve handled cases where doctors failed to order crucial blood tests or lumbar punctures when infection was suspected, or where test results showing infection weren’t acted upon quickly enough. Tragically, some of the most severe cases involve delays in administering antibiotics when infection was likely, leading to sepsis, meningitis or permanent brain damage. If any of these failures occurred in your case, we can investigate whether you have grounds for a compensation claim.
Beginning your claim with us is designed to be as straightforward as possible during what we understand is an emotionally difficult time. When you first contact us, we’ll listen carefully to your family’s experience with genuine compassion and understanding. Our specialist solicitors have expertise in GBS negligence cases and will explain the legal process in clear, sensitive terms. We’ll obtain all relevant medical records from your pregnancy and your baby’s treatment, and consult with leading neonatal and microbiology experts to assess whether there were failures in care. You can feel secure knowing we handle these cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you won’t face any financial risk in pursuing justice for your child. Throughout the process, we’ll handle the legal complexities while providing you with regular updates and compassionate support.
The compensation you may receive depends on how the delayed or missed diagnosis has affected your child’s health and development. For less severe cases where your baby made a full recovery after additional treatment, this might cover any additional care costs during recovery and your emotional distress. In more serious cases where your child developed permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy, hearing or vision loss, or developmental delays, compensation can cover lifetime care costs, specialist equipment, home adaptations, rehabilitation therapies, and loss of future earnings. We’ve secured life-changing compensation packages for families whose children require round-the-clock care due to GBS-related brain injuries. Our team will carefully assess all aspects of how this negligence has affected your child’s life and your family’s circumstances to ensure the claim reflects the true extent of your needs.
Most GBS negligence claims take between two and four years to resolve, though straightforward cases may conclude more quickly. Complex cases involving severe permanent injuries often take longer – sometimes several years – as we need to fully understand your child’s long-term prognosis and care requirements. The time frame depends on factors like how quickly we can obtain and analyse all medical records, whether the healthcare providers admit fault, and the extent of your child’s ongoing needs. While we’ll work efficiently to progress your claim, we’ll never rush the process at the expense of securing the full compensation your child deserves. Throughout what can be a lengthy journey, we’ll provide regular updates and be available to answer your questions, ensuring you’re supported at every stage.
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