SMA screening to be added to the Welsh newborn screening programme
Open for signatures until 29 January 2027.
29 signatures
- More than 250 signatures: considered by the Petitions CommitteeNot reached
- More than 10,000 signatures: considered for a debate in the SeneddNot reached
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic condition that causes the muscles to become weak and waste. It affects babies and children, although milder forms can appear later in life. A simple heel prick test can be carried out in newborn screening programmes. The UK Government announced that newborn SMA screening will begin from October 26 for England only. Scotland are screening already but Wales has no plans to.
More details
Why is newborn screening important?
This is why there is so much interest in screening newborns.
A simple heel-prick blood test taken in the first few days of life can detect most babies with SMA before symptoms appear.
Early diagnosis matters because treatments work best before motor neurons are permanently lost. Babies treated before symptoms develop often achieve much better outcomes than those treated after weakness has begun.
Signatures by constituency
The Senedd's petitions website lists 28 of the 29 signatures under a Senedd constituency.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Caerdydd Penarth | 5 |
| Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg | 4 |
| Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr | 4 |
| Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf | 3 |
| Afan Ogwr Rhondda | 2 |
| Casnewydd Islwyn | 2 |