Clinical Genetic Services in the United Kingdom

The aim of Clinical Genetic Services is to help individuals or families with, or at risk of, conditions which may have a genetic basis to live and reproduce as normally as possible. In the UK, such specialist genetic services have, in general, developed as a network of Regional Genetics Centres, each serving populations of approximately 2–5 million people. Clinical geneticists work within these regional centres in multidisciplinary teams together with genetic counsellors and laboratory scientists. The clinical services are delivered through a network of central and district clinics and, in some cases, joint clinics with other specialists.

Keywords: services; counselling; workload; outcome; registers

 References
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 Further Reading
    book British Medical Association (1998) Human Genetics: Choice and Responsibility. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
    ePath Clinical Genetics Society (2000) The Role of the Clinical Geneticist. www.clingensoc.org.
    book Department of Health (1996) Genetics and Cancer Services. Report of a Working Group of the Chief Medical Officer. London, UK: Department of Health.
    book Department of Health (1998) Genetics and Cancer Services. Report of a Working Group for the Department of Health. London, UK: Department of Health.
    book Department of Health (2002) Quality Markers for Clinical Genetics Services. London, UK: Department of Health.
    book Department of Health (2003) Our Inheritance, Our Future. Realising the Potential of Genetics in the NHS. London, UK: Department of Health.
    book Genetic Interest Group (1998) Guidelines for Genetic Services. Genetic Interest Group.
    ePath NHS National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2006) NICE Guidelines: Familial Breast Cancer. NICE clinical guideline 41 (partial update of NICE clinical guideline 14), October. http://www.nice.nhs.uk/.
    book Nuffield Council on Bioethics (1993) Genetic Screening: Ethical Issues. London, UK: Nuffield Foundation.
    book Royal College of General Practitioners (1998) Genetics in Primary Care. Occasional Paper 77. London, UK: Royal College of General Practitioners.
    book Royal College of Physicians (1996) Clinical Genetic Services into the Twenty-first Century. A Working Party Report. London, UK: Royal College of Physicians.
    book Royal College of Physicians (1998) Commissioning Clinical Genetic Services. London, UK: Royal College of Physicians.
    book Royal College of Physicians (1998) Clinical Genetic Services: Activity, Outcome, Effectiveness and Quality. London, UK: Royal College of Physicians.
    book Royal College of Physicians (1999) Consultant Physicians: Working for Patients. London, UK: Royal College of Physicians.
    book Temple IK and Westwood G (2006) Do Once and Share Clinical Genetics. NHS, September. http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/doas.
 Web Links
    ePath Consent and Confidentiality in genetic practice. Guidance on genetic testing and sharing genetic information. A report of the Joint Committee on Medical Genetics (April 2006) www.clingensoc.org.
    ePath Professional Roles in the multi-disciplinary team in Genetics. A framework for practice prepared by a working party of the Clinical Genetics Society and the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors. April 2006. www.clingensoc.org.
    ePath The Clinical Genetics Society (2005) Clinical Standards for a Genetics Unit. Clinical Governance sub-committee, August. www.clingensoc.org.
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Fryer, Alan(Mar 2008) Clinical Genetic Services in the United Kingdom. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005622.pub2]