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Jesy Nelson, the former Little Mix member, became emotional after her petition demanding the inclusion of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in newborn baby health screenings surpassed 100,000 signatures. This milestone means the issue must now be debated by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. Nelson began the campaign on Thursday morning, and by Friday evening, the response had reached the threshold needed for parliamentary consideration.
The singer’s motivation comes from her own experience, having given birth prematurely to twins in May 2025 who were later diagnosed with SMA type 1, a rare genetic disorder. Nelson publicly shared her daughters’ diagnosis in January to raise awareness about the condition. In a heartfelt Instagram post to her nearly 10 million followers, she expressed her gratitude for the public support, stressing that this achievement represents an important first step toward change.
SMA is a progressive disease that causes muscle wasting and can be fatal within two years if left untreated. The disorder impairs basic movements such as sitting, crawling, and walking, and can also affect breathing and swallowing, according to the NHS. Treatments exist that provide a healthy copy of the defective gene, but early intervention is crucial because irreversible nerve damage can occur before symptoms are detected. Currently, SMA screening is only offered to babies who have a sibling diagnosed with the condition.
Nelson’s petition seeks to have SMA screening incorporated into the newborn blood spot test—commonly known as the heel prick test—which is routinely offered at five days old to check for a range of serious but rare health issues. SMA UK also supports the addition of the test to this screening panel. Last month, Nelson met with the Health Secretary to discuss the potential life-saving impact that early diagnosis could have had on her daughters. Her public campaign highlights the importance of awareness around SMA and the benefits that timely detection can bring to affected families
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