The UK NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre: principles and challenges
The Department of Health in England is developing a strategy to prepare for healthcare changes that could result from the Human Genome Project. Recognising a need for improved genetics training at all levels of the NHS, it has established the National Genetics Education and Development Centre to provide a focal point to “act as a catalyst and help drive and co-ordinate activity”.
The Centre has a large task ahead, but has identified key principles designed to recognise and engage the everyday practice of healthcare professionals. They include understanding what patients expect to find out about genetics from the different health professionals they meet, and using patients’ experiences to demonstrate the clinical utility of genetics.
The Centre has a collaborative multidisciplinary team with expertise in educational theory and practice, communications, information technology, evaluation and event management. Initial work programmes centre on four NHS staff groups (dietitians, medical practitioners; nurses, midwives and health visitors; and pharmacists). The focus is on assessing genetics educational needs, developing and evaluating curricula, competency frameworks and educational resources; encouraging the integration of genetics into pre- and post-registration courses and continuing professional development.
Recognising the need to work through the existing professional bodies, providers of training and education, and not overloading curricula, the Centre is working in close co-operation with many organisations. It is especially important to keep responsibility for provision of education within current mechanisms and providers. Through a close alliance with a regional genetics service on a university site, we can incorporate rapid advances in genetic practice into the educational initiatives.
www.geneticseducation.nhs.uk