AQW 50867/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 03/09/2026
Answered On Date: 23/09/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans he has to ensure that screening for spinal muscular atrophy will proceed in line with other parts of the UK.

Answer:

Screening policy across the UK is informed by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent committee which advises the four UK Health Departments on all screening matters.

The UK NSC does not currently recommend screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in newborns but has instead recommended that an In-Service Evaluation (ISE) is carried out. ISEs are research to test proposed programmes in real-world settings to address evidence gaps and assess practical delivery. Plans have been put in place for these to begin in England and Scotland.

Evidence gathered by the ISEs will then be considered by the UK NSC before they make a decision on SMA screening.