Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]
For the past five years, I have been working with clinicians and impacted families who have campaigned to get Scotland’s national health service to add spinal muscular atrophy to a range of conditions that newborn babies are screened for as part of the heel prick testing programme. Indeed, I have raised the issue directly with the First Minister in this place. This week, Scotland became the first part of the United Kingdom to introduce that test right across the country, which will be life changing for those who are born with that rare condition.
Will the First Minister join me in congratulating the clinicians and the families, including my constituents the Pearsons and their toddler, Grayce, on their successful campaign? Will the First Minister consider further enhancing newborn baby screening programmes in the next session of Parliament?