e-petition 755980 relating to spinal muscular atrophy and the newborn screening test

Backbench debate (separate chamber, no votes)

A Westminster Hall debate on e-petition 755980 calling for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to be added to the newborn screening test. The petition asks the government to expand the current newborn blood spot screening programme to detect SMA early, potentially allowing treatment to begin before symptoms emerge. SMA is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness; early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare but severe condition affecting infants and young children. Adding it to newborn screening could allow early intervention with disease-modifying treatments before irreversible damage occurs, improving survival rates and quality of life. The debate will examine whether the clinical evidence and cost-effectiveness justify expansion of the screening programme.