1. Introduction and contacts
Updated 8 October 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-professional-handbook-newborn-blood-spot-screening/1-introduction-and-contacts
1. Introduction
This handbook informs and supports midwives, health visitors, neonatal nurses, laboratory staff and other health professionals who deliver the NHS Newborn Blood Spot (NBS) Screening Programme in England.
The handbook provides a detailed outline of the NBS screening pathway and directs the user to other relevant publications. Health professionals can use it as a quick reference guide to answer specific questions.
1.1 Midwives
Useful information includes:
- informed choice
- what to do if parents decline screening
- what to do if there is a family history of a condition
- reasons for repeat blood spots
- explaining repeat samples to parents
- how parents receive results
1.2 Health visitors
Useful information includes:
- what to do when a baby moves into area
- when to offer screening
- which conditions screening covers
- informed choice
- how parents receive results
1.3 Neonatal nurses
Useful information includes:
- informed choice
- pre and post transfusion blood spot samples
- how prematurity affects screening
- reasons for repeat blood spots
- how parents receive results
1.4 Screening coordinators
Useful information includes:
- NHS numbers and barcode labels
- transporting samples
- newborn blood spot failsafe solution
- repeat blood spots
- quality assurance
- programme standards and KPI data
- service specification and screening pathway
- incidence and positive predictive values
The content draws on evidence, healthcare professional enquiries to the programme, lessons from patient safety incidents, data collection, assessment of performance against standards, and evaluation of the programme’s e-learning resources.
2. Contacting the NBS screening programme
The NBS screening programme is here to help. Feel free to contact us at the screening helpdesk about any questions you have about newborn blood spot screening. We do not have access to screening results.
For example:
Question: I am a midwife. If a barcoded NHS number label has the baby’s name and NHS number on the label does this still need to be entered manually?
Answer: You do not need to enter the baby’s name and NHS number manually on the blood spot card if they are already on the barcoded label. However, you should check with the mother that all details on the label and card are correct. If baby’s NHS number on the label is incorrect, then make a note of it in the comments box and enter it manually on the card.
Question: I’m a health visitor. The mother has thalassaemia trait. Will the baby be tested for thalassaemia by newborn blood spot screening?
Answer: Please see this leaflet for details on this scenario.
Contact us with your questions about NBS screening, as well as any feedback on this programme handbook.
Population screening helpdesk
UKHSA Screening
Floor 5
Wellington House
133-155 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8UG
Email PHE.screeninghelpdesk@nhs.net
Helpdesk phone number 020 3682 0890
The helpdesk is not for media enquiries and does not have access to screening results. For queries about results, contact your GP or local screening service. Order screening leaflets at www.gov.uk/phe/screening-leaflets.
3. Latest news
PHE Screening blogs provide up to date news from all NHS screening programmes. You can register to receive updates direct to your inbox, so there’s no need to keep checking for new blogs.