Petition · Department of Health and Social Care

Ensure accurate and accessible gestational diabetes testing

Open for signatures 20 signatures

What the petition asks

Require NHS England to address known risks in gestational diabetes testing, including sample degradation, inconsistent practice and barriers to access, and take action to ensure every pregnant woman can access accurate and equitable testing and prevent missed diagnoses that can cause serious harm.
NIHR-funded research found that under routine NHS conditions more than half of gestational diabetes cases are being missed. Unless blood samples are processed correctly, glucose degrades, producing falsely low results that can leave women undiagnosed. Missed GDM increases risks for mothers and babies, including stillbirth and future type 2 diabetes. Hospital-based testing can also create access barriers. Women should be able to trust their test result.

Timeline

6 Aug 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 20
Status Open for signatures
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 6 Aug 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 7 Aug 2026.