UK Newborn Screening Rates Lag Behind Developed Nations, Even After Jesy Nelson's Campaign Success

BABY screening in the UK carries out tests for fewer conditions than most other nations in the developed world.

Britain ranks 28th of 36 despite the fact tots in England will be checked for an extra disease after a push by singer .

Baby screening in the UK checks for fewer conditions than most other developed nations, ranking 28th out of 36 countries Credit: Getty Little Mix star Jesy, 35, began her campaign on spinal muscular atrophy after her twins, Ocean and Story, were born with the disease but were not diagnosed until nerve damage started Credit: Instagram

The addition means the blood test in the first week of a baby’s life will detect 11 genetic conditions from October.

Scotland already tests for 11, while Wales and Northern ­Ireland test nine each.

Figures show a host of nations check for at least double that number.

Italy is top with 49, then Australia (40), Norway (39) and Poland and Russia (36).

Georgina Morton, chair of the ArchAngel MLD Trust, said: “We’re starting to look like a third world country.

“It is needlessly costing lives. It costs pennies to screen a child.”

The Newborn Screening Collaborative said screening in the UK is in a “lamentable” state.

The charity is campaigning for metachromatic leukodystrophy, known as MLD, to be added to the test.

Jesy is a doting mum to Ocean and Story Credit: Instagram Jesy’s twins have Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Credit: Instagram/Jesynelson

Checks cost just 17p and most patients die before age five without rapid treatment.

Little Mix star Jesy, 35, began her campaign on spinal muscular atrophy after her twins, Ocean and Story, were born last year with the disease but were not diagnosed until nerve damage started.