SMA to be added to newborn screening programme in Scotland from Spring 2026

8 September 2025

On Friday 5 September, the Scottish Government announced that Scotland will become the first country in the UK to begin national screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

From early 2026, parents in Scotland will be offered SMA screening for their newborn babies through the existing NHS blood spot test, which currently tests for nine conditions, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

This is a significant and positive step by the Scottish Government, and we’re delighted that babies in Scotland will be screened from next Spring. It’s crucial that other parts of the UK follow at the earliest opportunity, to ensure newborn screening for SMA is available everywhere.

We know that newborn screening is the fastest and most effective route to a diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), where early treatment is vital to minimising the impact of the condition and helping children grow up without complex needs.

Early diagnosis and treatment will not only improve the quality of life for babies and families affected by SMA, but it will also provide long-term NHS cost savings.

We will continue to work with partners, particularly SMA UK, to speed up the introduction of newborn screening for SMA in other parts of the UK.