In a new 10-year plan for the NHS, every baby in the UK will undergo DNA testing. This whole-genome sequencing will screen for hundreds of diseases, allowing individuals to “leapfrog” over potentially life-threatening illnesses, according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting. In an interview with the Telegraph, he shared plans to shift the NHS’s focus from treatment to sickness prevention. Personalised medicine, which is facilitated by innovations like DNA testing, will play a significant role in this initiative, supported by a £650 million investment in genomics research from the government.
“The revolution in medical science allows us to transform the NHS over the next decade. Instead of merely diagnosing and treating illnesses, we can shift toward predicting and preventing them,” stated Mr. Streeting. “Genomics gives us the opportunity to get ahead of diseases, rather than just reacting to them.” The upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan is set to be published in early July.
Currently, newborns are offered a blood test at around five days old to screen for nine rare but serious conditions. During this blood spot test, a small sample of blood is collected from the baby’s heel. However, with whole genome sequencing, blood samples are typically taken from the umbilical cord shortly after birth. In the past, Mr. Streeting has expressed his desire to make the NHS more preventative in order to lower the rates of serious illnesses and save costs.
Technologies like artificial intelligence will be used by the health service to predict illness and allow treatment or medication to be offered much earlier. “With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalised healthcare to prevent ill health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services and helping people live longer, healthier lives,” said Mr Streeting.
Along with a greater focus on prevention, the Government’s 10-year plan is expected to include Mr Streeting’s two other “shifts” in the NHS: moving care away from hospitals to communities, and from analogue to digital services. It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement that the Government would increase NHS funding by £29 billion per year in real terms over the next three years as it tries to cut waiting lists in line with its election promises.
Source: news.sky.com
