South East GLH

The NHS South East Genomic Laboratory Hub

NHS England have reconfigured genetic laboratory services and commissioned 7 national Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLH). The national GLH network will improve patient access for genetic testing and support the development of more personalised healthcare. The ultimate ambition is for patients with rare inherited diseases and cancer to be diagnosed and treated quicker than ever before, wherever they live.

The service allows clinicians to access testing for over 500 conditions, with some results being available in as little as three days. It will also enable the identification of gene mutations in cancer cells which can be targeted by new drug therapies.

National network of GMS regions (with key)
Map of GLH regions

The NHS South East Genomic Laboratory Hub (SE GLH), a network of leading foundation trusts and pathology providers, has been commissioned to deliver genomic testing services across South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The SE GLH provides genetic and genomic testing for a total of 20 acute NHS Trusts and 9 non-acute NHS Trusts, ensuring equitable access to testing for a population of 8.4 million.

 The SE GLH has also been commissioned to deliver specialist testing in 6 categories: cardiology, respiratory, gastro-hepatology, haematology, neurology and skin.

Order a genomic and genetic test through
the South East GLH

South East Consortium NHS Trusts​

External Partners

Meet the GLH team

Sean Whittaker

Medical Director

Sean Whittaker

Medical Director

Deborah Ruddy

Clinical Director

Deborah Ruddy

Clinical Director

Richard Hall

Operational Director

Richard Hall

Operational Director

Deborah Morris-Rosendahl

Scientific Director

Deborah Morris-Rosendahl

Scientific Director

David McKinnon

Data & Informatics Programme Manager

David McKinnon

Data & Informatics Programme Manager

Deborah Yallop

Haematological Malignancy Medical Lead

Deborah Yallop

Haematological Malignancy Medical Lead

Nirupa Murugaesu

Cancer Genomic Clinical Lead

Nirupa Murugaesu

Cancer Genomic Clinical Lead

Debashis Sarker

Cancer Genomic Clinical Lead

Debashis Sarker

Cancer Genomic Clinical Lead

Felix Chua

Rare Disease Medical Lead

Felix Chua

Rare Disease Medical Lead

Kalnisha Naidoo

Molecular Pathology Lead

Kalnisha Naidoo

Molecular Pathology Lead

David Brawand

Bioinformatics Lead

David Brawand

Bioinformatics Lead

Nicholas Lea

Lead Scientist for Haematological Malignancy

Nicholas Lea

Lead Scientist for Haematological Malignancy

Gareth Gerrard

Lead Scientist for Cancer Genomics

Gareth Gerrard

Lead Scientist for Cancer Genomics

Michael Yau

Lead Scientist for Rare Disease Genomics

Michael Yau

Lead Scientist for Rare Disease Genomics

Nicola Husain

Clinical Education and Training Lead

Nicola Husain

Education and Training Lead

Heidy Brandon

Clinical Education and Training Lead

Heidy Brandon

Education and Training Lead

Nicholas Hickson

Scientific Education and Training Lead

Nicholas Hickson

Education and Training Lead

Gail Norbury

Commissioning and Governance Lead

Gail Norbury

Commissioning and Governance Lead

Jeremy Skinner

Quality Manager

Jeremy Skinner

Quality Manager

Olaf Hartberg

General Manager

Olaf Hartberg

General Manager

Rebecca Jebaratnam

Programme Manager

Rebecca Jebaratnam

Programme Manager

Richard Rider

Programme Manager

Richard Rider

Programme Manager

How to order a test

Genomic testing in the NHS is provided through a national testing network of seven Hubs. The South East Genomic Laboratory Hub coordinates genetic and genomic testing for the South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex region. The tests will be aligned to the Cancer and Rare Disease National Genomic Test Directories. These directories specify which genomic tests are commissioned by the NHS in England, the technology by which they are available, the patients who are eligible to access the tests, and the healthcare professionals who can order them.

If you are not sure what test you want to order, take a look at the Genomic Medicine Service Test Selector, to help you find the correct test package for your patient https://test-selection-private.genomics.nhs.uk/test-selection/ 

Follow the links below to find out more and start the referral process: 

I want to order a
Cancer test

This link will take you to the available cancer tests, sample requirements and test request forms.
Click Here

I want to order a
Non-Cancer test

This link will take you to the available non-cancer tests, sample requirements and test request forms.
Click Here

I want to order
Whole Genome Sequencing

This link will take you to the available whole genome sequencing tests, sample requirements and test request forms.
Click Here

Documents and forms

Shortcut to the GLH test request forms

National test directory

The National Genomic Test Directory

The 2022/2023 National Genomic Test Directory specifies which genomic tests are commissioned by the NHS in England, the technology by which they are available, and the patients who will be eligible to access to a test. 

National Genomic Test Directory

The 2022/2023 National Genomic Test Directory for rare and inherited disorders and cancer.

Getting results

All genetic and genomic test results will be returned by the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub after appropriate interpretation and analysis has been completed. These reports will be returned directly to the ordering clinician, unless instructed otherwise.

100k guidance for clinicians

A big thank you to all the healthcare professionals in the South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex region who helped recruit over 2000 Cancer participants and nearly 4000 Rare Disease participants and their families to the Project. Recruitment to the Project has now come to an end and our current focus is on returning the results of the project to patients. Your continued cooperation and support are critical in ensuring this happens.

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Referring clinicians may be invited to a Genomic MDT meeting to review the results and discuss next steps for the patient. Depending on this discussion, more work may be required before the final result can be returned to the referring clinician (i.e. further analysis and validation of the findings).

In some cases an MDT discussion may not be appropriate and the report may be issued directly after the analysis at the lab. The referring clinician is then responsible for discussing the result with the patient.

Information for healthcare professionals on the 100,000 Genomes Project can be found on the Genomics England website:

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With any Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) test ordered, a Record of Discussion (RoD) form will also need to be submitted. This document is to record the patient’s consent for genomic testing and their choice on taking part in research. Guidance on the patient choice conversation can be found here
 
This RoD form will be available for clinicians to download from this webpage. Once completed with the patient, it can be send to the lab with the corresponding test order form and sample.
Tests available to order will be listed in the National Genomic Test Directory. A test order form will soon be made available for clinicians on this webpage to download and complete. This form will include the address of the laboratory that the appropriate sample and completed form needs to be sent to.
 
Until the new Genomic Laboratory Service goes live, please continue to follow existing test order processes.
 
Later this year, the online test ordering tool for Whole Genome Sequencing will be integrated into the National Genomics Informatics System (NGIS) and clinicians will be able to search or filter to find a clinical indication, confirm eligibility criteria and start the test request process for their patient.