FOREST of Dean MP Matt Bishop has added his voice to growing calls for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to be included in the NHS newborn screening programme, following an emotional television interview by singer Jesy Nelson.

Mr Bishop, who is a trustee of national parent-carer support charity Harry’s Pals, said the issue raised by Ms Nelson resonated with families in the Forest of Dean who face the shock of serious diagnoses and the challenge of navigating support systems.

The former Little Mix star appeared on ITV’s This Morning on Wednesday, January 7, where she revealed that her twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, had been diagnosed with SMA, a rare genetic condition that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling muscle movement.

SMA is not currently included in the NHS heel-prick blood test carried out on newborn babies at five days old, which screens for ten other conditions. Campaigners say this delay can be devastating, as damage to motor neurons begins very early, often before any outward symptoms are visible.

Speaking after the interview, Mr Bishop said: “Jesy’s courage in sharing her story is already helping parent carers who so often feel unheard. Sadly, her experience is not uncommon. By raising awareness of SMA so publicly, she is helping families feel seen and supported.”

He said that through his work with Harry’s Pals, which supports parents of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions across the country, he has seen first-hand the emotional toll that a sudden diagnosis can take.

“Parents regularly describe feeling as though they become a nurse overnight, when all they want is to be a mum or dad,” he said. “That moment changes everything. Early diagnosis doesn’t just improve clinical outcomes, it can fundamentally change the path a family’s life takes.”

During her interview, Ms Nelson told presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that her life had “completely changed” since the diagnosis and said the knowledge that early screening could have made a difference was deeply frustrating.

She said she felt a responsibility to use her platform to campaign for change, adding that she did not want to keep quiet if it could potentially prevent another family from facing the same situation.

Muscular Dystrophy UK, which has long campaigned for SMA to be added to newborn screening, says the condition is already tested for at birth in a growing number of countries. The charity stresses that once motor neurons are lost, they cannot be replaced, making early intervention critical.

Effective treatments now exist which, while not a cure, can dramatically improve quality of life if given early. Children diagnosed and treated shortly after birth can achieve significantly better outcomes, with many able to sit, stand, walk and breathe independently.

Ms Nelson has since confirmed she is running a petition calling for SMA to be added to the NHS heel-prick test, which is currently under review.

Mr Bishop said the campaign highlighted the importance of early help and better support for parent carers, issues he continues to raise on behalf of Forest of Dean residents.