All babies in England to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy

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By Sarah Lowden

A newborn screening programme for spinal muscular atrophy is to be rolled out across England, the government has announced.

The in-service evaluation (ISE) for SMA was first announced in April and was due to cover 72% of England. However, the DHSC has now said it will expand the programme to the whole country "to ensure children get the best treatment from the earliest possible moment".

It follows years of work by doctors, researchers, charities and campaigners who have highlighted that early diagnosis of the rare genetic neuromuscular condition gives babies the best possible chance to live a full and healthy life.

The test for SMA will be carried out as part of the heel prick test when babies are five days old – which currently checks for other rare but serious conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

Labs are expected to begin testing as soon as October, which the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said was three months ahead of the original schedule.