Genetics centre to train NHS staff

May 4 2004

A new centre will help to make sure that patients benefit from the latest developments in genetics by keeping NHS staff up-to-date.

Health Secretary John Reid announced today that the new Genetics Education and Development Centre will be run by Birmingham Women's Healthcare Trust. It will receive £600,000 a year for an initial three year period.

It will help NHS staff to understand how a patient's genetic make-up affects the likelihood of developing disease and how they might respond to different medicines.

John Reid said: "Improving the understanding and knowledge of staff is key if NHS patients are to fully benefit from the genetics revolution. Clinical staff need to know how genetic technology can be used in diagnosis, prevention and treatment so that they can help patients make informed choices about whether to take a genetic test or which treatment to choose."

Education in genetics will become part of all professional training
programmes, not only for undergraduates but also for existing staff. The centre will work with professional and academic bodies as well as other training providers to:

• identify the learning and skills gaps for different groups
  of staff, particularly GPs, so that they are able to access genetics
  education and training when they need it; 
• identify core skills which all genetic training and
  education should cover; 
• produce materials to support learning; 
  run seminars and workshops; and 
• help to raise the profile of genetics.