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Genomics

 

What is genomics?

Genomics is the study of a person’s genes (genome). It is a rapidly advancing discipline that offers opportunities to transform the care patients receive, some of which include:

  • earlier diagnosis
  • more personalised treatments and avoiding adverse effects from medication, and
  • identifying other health risks.

We need to ensure that this service can be offered to patients throughout Wales so we can provide the best care possible. 

 

Why do healthcare professionals need to know about Genomics?

Rapid advances in the study of the human genome provide huge opportunities to healthcare, no matter your area of clinical practice. This significant benefit to patients cannot be realised in NHS Wales without up-skilling everyone who makes up our healthcare workforce to enable increased integration of genomics into patient pathways.

 

Strategic Workforce Plan for Genomics

In 2020, Wales signed as a partner in Genome UK: the future of healthcare (a 10-year strategy to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world) and subsequently published the Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales 2022-2025.

One of the actions in the Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales was to produce a Strategic Genomics Workforce Plan.  Health Education and Improvement Wales worked in partnership with Genomics Partnership Wales to produce this plan, and it was officially launched on 15th November 2024. 

The plan sets out a roadmap for the next three years with 33 actions identified to support the workforce in harnessing genomic medicine for the benefit of patients and the population.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) will continue its collaboration with Genomics Partnership Wales (GPW) to support the implementation of the plan.

 

GeNotes

Developed by NHS England, GeNotes are quick and concise resources which can help healthcare professionals make the right genomics decisions at each stage of a clinical pathway.

Further resources specific to the clinical pathways in Wales will be available shortly.

 
Genomics training

To embed genomics as a regular service throughout healthcare in Wales, we need to educate the NHS Wales workforce about it and how it impacts on their practice.

With GPW, we have developed the following e-learning modules to increase your understanding and improve patient care.

With a well-trained workforce and appropriate genomic testing in place, NHS Wales can transform the delivery of healthcare for the benefit of patients.

For further information about the genomics programme please contact HEIW.Genomics@wales.nhs.uk.

 

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