The newly-formed Primary Care Genetics Society (PCGS) has been set up to raise genetic awareness in primary care. It is a non-profit making organisation which welcomes any new members who have an interest in the concept of primary care genetics, and this includes GPs, practice and district nurses, midwives, health visitors, pharmacists, genetic counsellors and specialty consultants
It's clear that there is momentum in raising awareness of the relevancy of genetics in primary care practice. The media, patient expectations, clinical genetics research, regional genetics centres and the genetics knowledge parks have all contributed to this. Key service and educational policy documents such as 'Our Inheritance our future' and 'Addressing Genetics and Delivering Health' have highlighted the need for primary care to respond to the increasing demand for genetic advice and management of patients with genetic disorders. Primary care can respond through education and service development. The National Genetics Education Centre (NGEC) in Birmingham has been working hard to facilitate and provide genetics education for the non-geneticist healthcare professionals. It's clear that competency frameworks relevant for the non-geneticist primary care professional need to be tailored to that individual professional group
The NHS haemoglobinopathy screening programme is a good example of how the management of genetic disorders may be affected by primary care professionals needing to be aware of each other's roles in the identification and management of at-risk individuals. In tandem with this will be the need of the primary care professional to be aware of possible ethical, legal and social dilemmas that may be raised in dealing with patients and their families
The aims and objectives of the PCGS will be delivered through educational support. Driving this will be the executive council, which will over time aim to have representatives from a range of professional groups. At present these include a genetic counsellor, GPs and consultant clinical geneticists. One of its key objectives is to support primary care professionals with an interest in genetics through the delivery of education and practical information. The aim is to establish regional networks of key people who will work in partnership with both professional and patient organisations such as the NGEC, regional genetics centres, the British Society of Human Genetics and patient organisations such as the Genetic Interest Group. Such networks will aid the efficient dissemination of information and education to primary care professionals. Supporting primary care professionals may well lead to improving diagnosis and appropriate referral of people with inherited conditions through to specialist services. The Primary Care Genetics Society will also look for developing collaborations with Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of General Practitioners - particularly as genetics is on the General Practice curriculum, and it's likely that vocational trainers may welcome support in delivering the genetics curriculum to their registrars.
The first initiative for the PCGS will be a conference entitled 'The Relevance of Clinical Genetics to General Practice Medicine', to be held on Wednesday 14th February 2007 at The Law Society in London (for details see the website). We have excellent speakers who will cover a range of issues, including family history skills, management of chronic genetic conditions and the ethical and psycho-social implications of patients having a genetic disorder. These are the basic subject materials that the society feels should be addressed, over time, which are relevant for primary care.
If you would like to become a free member of the society, please join online at the website or for further information please email.
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