Jesy Nelson calls plan to test newborns for deadly muscle condition a ‘victory’

• Newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) will be introduced across England via heel prick testing, enabling early detection of this potentially fatal muscle condition
• Early identification through screening allows for prompt treatment initiation, which can significantly improve outcomes in SMA patients before symptoms manifest
• This addition to the newborn screening programme represents an expansion of preventative medicine in primary care and requires awareness of the testing protocol and referral pathways for positive results

All newborn babies are set to have a heel prick test for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in England.

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