Written question asked by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Monday, 20 October 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 October 2014. It was answered by Dan Poulter (Conservative) on Monday, 27 October 2014 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Babies: Screening

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost would be of immediately screening all newborn babies for MCAD deficiency.

Answer

This information is not held centrally. All newborn babies are screened currently for four serious but rare conditions, including Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). This is part of the postnatal pathway and is paid for as part of the Maternity Pathway Payment (MPP). The cost for screening MCADD is not identified separately within the MPP.

The NHS Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme in England routinely offers newborn screening for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and MCADD. Newborn screening in England is offered between 5 and 8 days after the baby is born. The midwife takes a small sample of blood droplets from the baby’s heel for testing on a blood spot card.

With early detection further diagnostic testing and early treatment can then be provided and avoid any unnecessary wait and help improve and prevent severe disability.

The UK National Screening Committee have recommended extending the newborn bloodspot screening programme in 2015 to include screening for maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric acidaemia type 1 and isovaleric acidaemia.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 211014
Session: 2014-15
Subjects: Babies Diseases Hereditary diseases Screening
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Babies: Screening

Secondary information

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