Petition · past parliament

Increase the amount of diseases screened for in the new born heel prick test.

Closed 406 signatures

What the petition asks

The UK raised the amount of diseases screened for during the heel prick test from 5 to 9 in January 2015.
Portugal currently screen for 27, Australia & New Zealand 28, Spain 29 and the USA 31 to 60.
The UK are seriously behind other countries and our children are suffering unnecessarily.
Many diseases that can be screened for can be cured or treated if caught before the symptoms appear (from asthma to the terminal disease of Krabbes), chances to combat a number of the diseases which can be screened for are only possible if they're detected early enough.
I have spoken to parents who has lost their children, or are caring for their terminally ill children, who feel anger knowing something could have been done.
We are asking for the UK amount to be increased and include Krabbes.

Timeline

19 Aug 2015 Petition opened for signatures
19 Feb 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 406
Status Closed
Opened 19 Aug 2015
Closed 19 Feb 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.