Member Article

Fletchers Solicitors partners with national charity to raise awareness of life threatening neonatal infection

Leading medical negligence and serious injury law firm, Fletchers Solicitors, has partnered with a national charity to provide legal support to families whose babies have been affected by Group B Streptococcus (GBS).

Fletchers Solicitors will be assisting Group B Strep Support to raise awareness of GBS, the most common cause of life-threatening infection in new-born babies.

The infection currently causes meningitis, sepsis or pneumonia in over 700 babies every year in the UK. On average, it results in the death of one baby a week.

GBS is a bacteria carried by up to a third of adults, most commonly in the gut. Because there are usually no symptoms or side-effects, the only way to find out if you are a carrier is through testing. Unlike many in other developed countries, pregnant women in the UK are not offered this testing via public health services to determine whether they are carrying GBS – although the tests are available privately. Because of this, national awareness of the condition is currently low.

Fletchers will be involved in organising fundraising drives, and will also provide expert legal advice to any individuals who may be considering legal action. Fletchers has worked with the charity for a number of years, with senior solicitor, Christian Beadell, having previously served as a formal panel member.

Christian Beadell, senior solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Group B Strep Support. The charity raises vital awareness and offers support to families affected by or concerned about Group B Strep.

“As a firm, we will strive to ensure that families who want to pursue a legal claim to find out what has happened to their child, and why, receive fast and effective advice from experienced lawyers who understand the issues surrounding the Group B Strep infection.”

Jane Plumb MBE, chief executive of Group B Strep Support, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Fletchers, as it has real experience of working with neonatal Group B Strep cases. Having known Christian Beadell since 2011, we know he is passionate about families and their health professionals having good quality information about Group B Strep.”

“By partnering with Fletchers, we can provide information and support to families and their health professionals. We rely on partnerships like these to continue our vital work, and this new partnership will enable us to reach many more of the 800,000 families who have babies each year.”

For more information, please visit: www.fletcherssolicitors.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ursula Hutchinson .