Every baby born in the UK will have their DNA sequenced under a radical 10-year overhaul of the NHS, with ministers promising a future of personalised medicine and disease prevention that begins from birth.

As first reported in The Telegraph, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, revealed the new strategy as part of an upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan, to be published in July. The plan will see newborns undergo whole-genome sequencing to assess their risk of developing hundreds of conditions, moving the NHS away from treating illness and towards preventing it.

Streeting said the revolution in medical science could transform the NHS over the coming decade: “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.”

“Genomics presents us with the opportunity to leapfrog disease, so we’re in front of it rather than reacting to it.”

The policy builds on pilot programmes launched in recent months, including a study to sequence the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies in England.

The NHS currently offers a heel-prick blood test at five days old, which screens for nine rare but serious conditions such as cystic fibrosis. The new model would instead use blood samples — typically taken from the umbilical cord — to conduct full genome sequencing, offering a much broader view of each child’s future health risks.

Backed by a £650 million investment in genomics, the initiative aims to use genetic insights to deliver early, targeted treatments and even preventive prescriptions. Officials said the shift could reduce adverse drug reactions, improve NHS efficiency, and help patients avoid life-threatening illnesses altogether.

The broader plan outlines three major shifts for the NHS over the next decade: a move from hospitals to community care, from analogue to digital systems, and from treating sickness to predicting and preventing disease. Smart watches, virtual consultations, and greater involvement of private providers will also feature as part of the wider digital transformation.

However, the rollout of DNA sequencing for every newborn is expected to raise ethical and privacy concerns. Parents will be asked to provide consent, but some children may grow up knowing they carry genes linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s or aggressive cancers. A recent study of 7,000 babies found 27 with the BRCA1 “Jolie gene”, which carries a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.

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There are also concerns over data security, now more so than ever given what happened with 23andMe. While identifying details will be encrypted and stored separately, all genetic samples and health records will be held within the National Genomic Research Library – a potential target for hackers.

Despite these challenges, the government views the new programme as a necessary leap forward. The Department for Health and Social Care said genomics and AI will be used to “revolutionise prevention” and offer faster diagnoses through personalised risk profiles.

The initiative will also support Genomics England’s efforts to build one of the world’s largest research databases, with the goal of sequencing over 500,000 genomes by 2030.