Jesy Nelson 'outraged' after MPs debate screening for muscle condition that affects her twins

Image source, Jesy Nelson / Instagram Image caption, Nelson made her comments in an emotional, seven-minute video; following a debate in Parliament on Monday By Mark Savage Music correspondent Published 14 minutes ago Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson says she is "heartbroken" and "outraged" by MPs, following a debate about spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) testing in parliament. The singer has been campaigning for newborn babies to be screened for the muscle-wasting disease after her twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson, were diagnosed with it. Caught early, the condition is treatable. Without diagnosis, it can cause death within two years. Scotland introduced screening in March; but a similar scheme for the UK will only have a limited roll-out. Nelson expressed frustration after public health minister Sharon Hodgson defended the staggered launch, saying: "I cannot believe we are still debating this." "You are basically telling me that if you live in a certain postcode, you're not as important," the singer said on Instagram , external . "It's outrageous." Hodgson said that limited testing facilities were preventing a full roll-out of screening for SMA. The BBC has contacted her and the Department of Health for a response to Nelson's comments. 'It makes no sense' Monday's parliamentary debate , external was prompted by a petition launched by Nelson, which attracted more than 150,000 signatures. While it was announced that SMA screening would be introduced from October 2026 - three months earlier than initially planned - it will only be available to 72% of newborns in the UK. Among the areas that will miss out are Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford and Portsmouth. Wales and Northern Ireland, which set their own health policies, have yet to announce screening programmes. Nelson said the situation left too many children at risk. "If it's safe enough for 72% of England to get this tested at birth, then why is it not good enough for the [other] 28%?" she asked. "How do we justify that? How is that ethical? It makes no sense," she said. Image caption, Sharon Hodgson MP said that limited testing facilities were preventing a full roll-out of screening for SMA in the UK The staggered roll-out has been introduced under the advice of the UK National Screening Committee , external , which wants to evaluate the effectiveness of screening, and the cost of treatment to the NHS. The trial will involve seven of the 13 testing laboratories available to the NHS in the UK. Speaking in parliament, Hodgson said the remaining six laboratories "do not currently have the requisite equipment" for testing. "If that changes, more labs could be included," she added. Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North, said she was "alarmed" that parents in her constituency would not have access to the tests. "We need to ask the Government why babies born in Portsmouth matter less than babies born in other parts of the country?" she said during the debate. Ruth Jones, MP for