Ensuring education and quality in the practice of health professionals (non-medical) working in genetic services

Abstract

The science of genomics is increasingly important to healthcare provision in Europe and has an increasing impact on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of common disease. • The number of tests being performed is changing rapidly with a concurrent increase in the number of individuals that have to make decisions about testing that may profoundly influence not only their own lives, but the lives of their family members. • More professionals with different backgrounds will be involved in genetic services, either directly or in dealing with the impact of testing to provide psychosocial support for families. • New professions are rapidly evolving in Europe. Genetic nurses and genetic counsellors are health professionals with specific training and expertise in the activity of genetic counselling. Genetic counsellors may have a background in nursing, midwifery, social work, psychology or biology applied to health science and work as part of the multi-professional team in clinical genetics or other specialist services.