Jesy Nelson SMA petition triggers UK Government response on baby tests

Jesy Nelson's petition for newborns to be tested for spinal muscular atrophy has received thousands of signatures. Photo / Getty Images

Jesy Nelson’s petition with Parliament, to demand all newborn babies born in Britain are tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), will receive a response from the Government after it was signed more than 66,000 times.

The 34-year-old singer’s 8-month-old twin daughters Ocean and Story were recently diagnosed with SMA Type 1, a rare muscle-wasting disease.

England’s NHS carries out a heel prick test on newborns, but SMA is not currently part of the routine blood spot test, so Nelson has launched a petition to urge the British Government “to fund and help fast-track the process to add SMA to the NHS newborn heel-prick test”.

At the time of writing, the petition titled Review the evidence and fund the addition of SMA to the Newborn Screening Test, has been signed more than 66,000 times.

The British Government will respond if a petition hits 10,000 signatures, but if 100,000 or more sign it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Nelson is hoping she can use her platform to drive “real change”.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’m really proud to be working alongside the Mirror and SMA UK on this campaign and launching this petition. This is something that means a lot to me personally, and I’m passionate about using my platform to raise awareness, support families affected and help drive real change.

“Partnering with organisations who care so deeply about this makes it even more special to be part of.”

Nelson also took to Instagram to reveal her petition was live.

She wrote: “As you all know, I’ve been working hard to campaign for SMA to be added to the newborn screening heel-prick test here in the UK.

“I’m so happy and proud to finally share that my petition is now LIVE.

“I’ve popped the link in my stories bio. Any support, shares or signatures would mean the world to me and to so many other families”

Earlier this week, Nelson told how she no longer has “time” to make music.

Speaking to Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart FM’s Breakfast show, Nelson – who recently split from her daughters’ father Zion Foster – said: “Look listen I’d never say never say never to music, but for me, my girls are my main focus, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve not got time, I really don’t.

“They are my whole heart and soul and my main focus, and I want to continue advocating for them and getting this heel-prick test changed and getting them strong, that’s my main focus.

“Because that’s going to determine their future. That’s my main focus right now.”