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

Jesy Nelson 'outraged' after MPs debate screening for muscle condition that affects her twinsImage source, Jesy Nelson / InstagramImage caption, Nelson made her comments in an emotional, seven-minute video; following a debate in Parliament on MondayByMark SavageMusic correspondentPublishedJust nowFormer 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 l...