South East GMSA
The NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance
The application of genomic technologies across end-to-end patient pathways has the potential to transform patient’s lives through quicker diagnosis and the delivery of personalised medicine and care plans which are better suited and tailored to treat the underlying cause. A national network of 7 NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances (GMSAs) will support the systematic embedding of genomics into routine clinical care and the rapid adoption of scientific advances through collaborative partnership working across disciplines and geographies.
The South East GMSA will build on the successful partnerships that have formed across our geography over the past few years through our NHS South London Genomic Medicine Centre (GMC) and more recently, the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH).
Our GMSA geography covers approximately 15.4% of the population of England and brings a range of opportunities for the region that will be driven through the Alliance Network, including our region’s Integrated Care Systems, Cancer Alliances and Primary Care Networks. The work of the South East GMSA will build on that of extensive existing local and regional clinical networks across a broad range of specialties and work with patient and public representatives.
The GMSA will work in close collaboration with the GLH to ensure patients fully benefit from advances in genomics, bringing together a national test directory and equitable access to standardised testing pathways with exciting clinical opportunities afforded by new detailed understanding about people’s underlying genetic profiles.
Our aim
The South East GMSA will seek to improve patient outcomes through care pathway development and enabling timely and equitable access to genomic testing and genomically informed treatments across primary and secondary care in our geographic region.
The GMSA will focus on reducing unwarranted variation and delivering the NHS Long Term Plan commitments to make demonstrable improvements to outcomes in the following areas for our patients and the populations we serve:
- equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, including genomic testing, clinical genetics and counselling services
- access to treatments and medicine optimisation driven by comprehensive genomic and diagnostic characterisation
- access to clinical trials
- active participation and contribution to genomic research to advance clinical care for patient and societal benefit.
Our key priorities
The regional GMSAs will focus on the following priorities:
- Completion of the 100,000 Genomes Project
- Retaining and building patient and public trust in genomics
- Strengthening partnerships across the geography
- Using genomics to improve health and care productivity, quality and efficiency
- Supporting the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently
- Maximising opportunities to facilitate and participate in research and innovation
- Operating as a national network and representing the NHS GMS internationally
Our 21/22 transformation projects
DPYD: standardising the equitable implementation of DPYD gene testing and optimising clinical effectiveness for patients with cancer
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH): increasing identification of FH in the community
Lynch syndrome: delivering a comprehensive service for the detection of Lynch syndrome
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): supporting the BHF pilot through the delivery of a dedicated Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions (ICC) liaison for the coronial service for all patients with SCD
Monogenic Diabetes: improving the identification and treatment of monogenic diabetes
Pathology: supporting rapid cancer genomic diagnostics through pathway improvement
Nursing & Midwifery: delivering a systematic approach to integrating genomics into nursing and midwifery practice
Renal: integrating genomics into renal care pathways through raising awareness and upskilling healthcare professionals
Neurology: addressing unmet genetic diagnostic needs in 16-25 year olds with complex epilepsy and neuromuscular disease
Genomics Navigator: developing an app-based clinical navigator to guide mainstream specialities in the use of genomics
HEE Genomics Education Programme
Our Alliance Partners
