Every baby born in the UK will have their DNA mapped within a decade as part of a radical overhaul of the NHS designed to predict and prevent disease before it strikes.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said advances in genomics could allow people to “leapfrog” life-threatening illnesses and receive “personalised” care long before symptoms appear.
Under plans due to be unveiled in a major 10-year strategy next month, all newborns will undergo whole genome sequencing to assess their risk of developing hundreds of conditions.
The move, part of a broader push to shift the NHS away from diagnosing illness and towards preventing it, aims to consign blanket health checks and rudimentary screenings to the past.
“The revolution in medical science means that we can transform the NHS over the coming decade, from a service which diagnoses and treats ill health, to one that predicts and prevents it,” Mr Streeting said.
“Genomics presents us with the opportunity to leapfrog disease, so we’re in front of it rather than reacting to it.
“With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalised health care to prevent ill health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services and helping people live longer, healthier lives.”
He added: “Our 10-year plan will build on the founding promise of the NHS, so that it provides health care free at the point of risk, not just need.”
The initiative will be backed by a £650 million investment in genomics as part of the Government’s wider Life Sciences sector plan. It follows pilot programmes to sequence the genomes of 100,000 newborns and draws inspiration from similar schemes in Japan.
The NHS currently offers a heel-prick blood test for nine rare conditions in newborns. Under the new model, blood samples — typically taken from the umbilical cord — would be used for full genome sequencing.
The changes come amid a wider digital transformation of the NHS, which will also include smartwatches for patients, virtual “Uber-style” hospitals connecting patients directly with consultants, and greater use of private firms to deliver care.
The 10-year plan will outline three major shifts: from hospital to community care, from analogue to digital systems, and from sickness treatment to disease prevention.
Officials said the move to predictive care could revolutionise the use of medicines, enabling earlier, targeted interventions and even preventive prescriptions. It may also reduce adverse drug reactions by tailoring treatments to individual genetic profiles.
Efforts to overhaul maternity care and tackle social factors such as poor housing are also expected to be included, with Mr Streeting meeting bereaved parents this week to discuss ways of improving outcomes.
However, the rollout of whole genome sequencing for newborns is likely to spark debate over ethics and privacy.
Parents would be asked to give consent for the tests, but some children may grow up with knowledge of their genetic risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s or aggressive cancers. A recent study of 7,000 babies found 27 carrying the BRCA1 “Jolie gene”, which is linked to a sharply increased risk of breast cancer.
There are also concerns over the security of genomic data. Samples and health records will be stored in the National Genomic Research Library, with identifying details encrypted and kept separate.
Despite such safeguards, the data is seen as a valuable target for hackers. In 2023, genetic testing firm 23andMe was fined £2.3 million after failing to adequately protect UK user data during a cyber attack.
Officials argue that with robust protections in place, the benefits of early detection far outweigh the risks.
“Health care must keep pace with science,” one source said. “This is about giving people the best possible start in life — and keeping them healthier for longer.”
