Pregnancy: Screening
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing routine pre-natal testing for Spinal Muscular Atrophy for all pregnancies.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care
No assessment has been made of pre-natal testing and treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. However, we refer the Hon Member to the announcement made on post-natal screening for spinal muscular atrophy by the Department on 16 July 2026, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/every-baby-in-england-to-get-life-saving-genetic-test-from-birth
The new born heel prick test is routinely carried out by health visitors or community midwives on day five after birth. No assessment has been made of the merits of carrying out the test at day one.
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