Life-saving blood test not available to pregnant women in Wales despite being rolled out in England

A blood test that can rule out a potentially fatal disease in pregnant women is not being offered in Wales despite being rolled out across the NHS in England.

The test - known as placental growth factor (PLGF) testing - is the first of its kind in the world to rule out pre-eclampsia and is already being used in maternity units in England.

Pre-eclampsia, which usually occurs later in pregnancy, can be life-threatening for both pregnant women and their babies.

Early symptoms include high blood pressure and a certain protein in the mother's urine.

A pre-eclampsia charity has said they are "baffled" that the Welsh Government is not offering the test to pregnant women in Wales.

Marcus Green, chief executive of Action on Pre-eclampsia said: "We know the tests work, we know it's good, we know that women want it and we know women want that certainty.

"We also know it saves money for the NHS.

"England have seen the need for it, they've gone ahead and they've funded it, yet Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are little bit behind the curves - and we just don't know why."

He continued: "I think it's a decision for Scottish politicians and Welsh politicians as to why they're not funding this and we need those answers now.

"We've been pushing for answers for the last couple of years and we really haven't got them."

A Welsh Government spokesperson has said: "We expect all health boards to follow the relevant NICE and UK National Screening Committee (UK NCS) guidelines.

"Current UK NCS guidelines do not recommend screening for pre-eclampsia but we will keep this under review."