Petition Add Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the UK Newborn Heel-Prick Screening Test
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NHS newborn heel-prick blood test so that every baby born in the UK is screened at birth, using the test that already exists, to allow early diagnosis and access to life-changing treatment. SMA is a rare genetic condition and a leading cause of infant mortality.
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It is now treatable, but treatment works best before symptoms appear. Currently, many babies are diagnosed too late, after irreversible damage has occurred. Screening for SMA does not require a new programme it simply adds one condition to the existing heel-prick test. Scotland has committed to screening. All babies across the UK deserve the same chance of an early diagnosis and the best possible start in life. “No child should suffer avoidable harm when early diagnosis can change outcomes.
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