Belfast mum and UK charity call for SMA screening in Northern Ireland as England starts testing

Belfast mum and UK charity call for SMA screening in Northern Ireland as England starts testing

Thursday 1 October 2026 marks a defining moment for newborn screening as the first laboratory in England starts testing for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to assess the feasibility of adding it to the NHS newborn blood spot test on a permanent basis. However, as England follows Scotland, who started screening in March, there are no plans in place in Northern Ireland or Wales. Babies are being left behind based on where they live.