All children will be able to receive whole genome sequencing at birth, under ambitions laid out by the Health Secretary.

Matt Hancock said that in future, the tests would be routinely offered, alongside standard checks on newborns, in order to map out the risk of genetic diseases, and offer “predictive, personalised” care.

Ministers have already promised that such tests will be offered to all children diagnosed with cancer by the end of this year.

The same steps are planned for adults with certain rare diseases and hard-to-treat cancers, with ambitions to sequence 5 million genomes in the UK within five years.

Now Mr Hancock has unveiled hopes to go further - telling scientists that every single child should be able to receive the tests at birth, in a “genomic revolution” across the country.

Such moves would mean parents could choose to be alerted to the fact their child faced heightened risks of specific diseases, and allow the NHS to offer more tailored treatment, experts say.