Jesy Nelson condemns UK health minister for limited SMA newborn screening rollout

Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, whose twin daughters were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), has launched a public campaign for universal newborn screening in England. After a petition she started gathered more than 150,000 signatures, a parliamentary debate was held in which Health Minister Sharon Hodgson argued against a full rollout. The government announced that SMA screening will be introduced as part of In‑Screen‑Evaluations from October 2026, covering roughly 72 % of newborns and leaving about 28 % unscreened. Nelson described the partial roll‑out as a “postcode lottery” and “not ethical”, saying it could mean children die before their second birthday without early treatment. She posted an emotional video to the minister, showing two sisters with SMA who received different care, and demanded a timeline for 100 % coverage across England.