The BBC's Naina Parma: The DSA says non-Down's syndrome babies get better treatment

It is estimated that two children a week are born with Down's syndrome in the UK.

The DSA says about half will have some form of heart defect.

Despite this, it states, many Down's babies receive only "the most cursory checks" at birth and some are missing out on corrective surgery.

It says: "Failure to identify and evaluate problems in the first few weeks of birth can have catastrophic consequences as corrective surgery - with survival rates as high as 80 or 90% - must be performed before complications, such as lung damage, are allowed to set in."

Non-clinical judgements

The DSA adds that it has heard reports that some surgeons are opting not to carry out heart surgery on Down's children.

Carol Boys of the DSA: We have evidece of discrimination

It says their decisions are often based on cost rather than sound clinical judgements and are part of an overall pattern of discrimination against people with Down's syndrome.

Carol Boys, chief executive of the DSA, said: "Health professionals should not allow the existence of Down's syndrome to affect their clinical judgement, particularly where children with Down's syndrome are passed over for surgery on grounds of cost.

"This is particularly indefensible given that the costs of providing on-going care for a person with a degenerative heart condition far outweigh the cost of screening and surgery."

The association says it knows of children who have died through undiagnosed heart defects.

They include 17-month-old Zach who received one electrocardiogram by a non-specialist who "failed to see his severe heart defects".

He was not offered follow-up screening or surgery and the DSA say he died because "his heart defect was much more serious than realised".

As a result, the hospital involved has improved its screening procedures.

Campaign

The DSA is launching a Health Alert campaign to improve heart monitoring of Down's children.

Down's syndrome children run a high risk of having heart defects

It wants the cardiac status of all Down's babies to be established within six weeks of birth and for follow-up checks at three and six months.

It also wants screening to be carried out under the care of a heart expert and on specialist equipment.

The campaign is backed by Dr Philip Rees, consultant paediatric cardiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.

He said: "I wholeheartedly support the DSA's call for a better screening regime and am confident that this - along with access to the appropriate surgical treatment - will ensure the best chance of health for these babies in the future."

The DSA also wants better general training of health professionals to reduce what it calls "core prejudice" against people with Down's syndrome.