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.

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While the information could improve care, and harness future breakthroughs, families will face a dilemma about whether they want to know about the lifetime risks facing their child.

Mr Hancock told a conference by Genomics England that children would get the “best start in life” if they were offered gene mapping alongside the standard checks offered within days of birth, to test for rare diseases.

“My ambition is that eventually every child will be able to receive whole genome sequencing along with the heel prick test,” he told the conference.

“We will give every child the best possible start in life by ensuring they get the best possible medical care as soon as they enter the world. Predictive, preventative, personalised healthcare – that is the future of the NHS – and whole genome sequencing and genomics is going to play a huge part in that,” he said.

The Health Secretary said the NHS was standing “on the cusp of a healthcare revolution” which would mean everyone could receive personalised healthcare with tailor made drugs and treatments.

The 100,000 Genomes Project was launched by David Cameron in 2012, in memory of his son Ivan, who died in 2009 from a rare neurological disorder. The target was met last December, with the NHS now working to a goal of 5 million genomes to be sequenced within five years.

Mr Hancock said the project had already meant 15,000 cancer patients had seen changes in their treatment, with a quarter of participants with rare diseases receiving a more specific diagnosis which could improve their treatment.