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Jesy Nelson celebrates rollout of screenings for rare condition
The NHS pilot will test 404,000 babies and use 163,000 as a control group to assess earlier treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that England will launch a newborn screening pilot for spinal muscular atrophy in October 2026, accelerating the rollout by three months from the original January 2027 date.
- Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson campaigned for mandatory testing after her twins received a late diagnosis that caused irreversible muscle damage, prompting her to meet with Streeting earlier this year.
- The pilot will test an estimated 404,000 infants over 12 months, though 163,000 newborns will remain untested as a control group—a methodology experts have labeled "unethical."
- SMA UK chief executive Giles Lomax called the announcement a "major milestone," asserting that "no baby should be left behind" as the charity pushes for a full national rollout beyond England.
- Currently, the UK screens for ten conditions compared to Italy's 48, while Scottish officials collaborate with the UK National Screening Committee to share findings from this pilot across the home nations.
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Jesy Nelson hails 'massive' NHS SMA test announcement after twins' diagnosis
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has hailed the 'massive' announcement that NHS England will begin screening over 400,000 newborns for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) from October 2026
·Birmingham, United Kingdom
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