Job responsibilities
Background
The UK is recognised worldwide as a leader in genomics and the unique structure of the NHS is allowing the delivery of genomic advances at scale and pace for patient benefit. As part of NHS Englands (NHSE) strategy to establish a national Genomics Medicine Service (GMS), building on the success of the 100,000 Genomes Project, NHS England has commissioned seven genomic laboratory hubs (GLHs) each responsible for coordinating genomic and genetic testing services for a particular part of the country, including the start of whole genome sequencing.
Seven GMS Alliances (each aligned with one of the GLHs) have also been created to support the systematic implementation of genomic medicine into the mainstream healthcare system and harness the power of genomics to improve the health of our population.
Together GLHs and GMS Alliances comprise the new Genomic Medicine Service which will:
- Address variations in genetic testing quality and access across the country
- Enhance the quality of information e.g., the cost and type of tests performed
- Broaden understanding of the causes of disease and the effectiveness of interventions
The NHS GMS Alliances will have a critical role in facilitating strong collaborations across large geographies, working with all healthcare providers, patients and the public to build trust in genomics, and providing clinical leadership to enable the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently. Potential improvements in care for patients include effective, quicker diagnosis of rare conditions, personalising treatments and care for patients with inherited conditions and cancer, and a better understanding of the underlying cause of many conditions. The NHS GMS will work to uniform standards and a national test directory, and the Alliances will help embed this new technology, reduce unwarranted variation with commitments to make demonstrable improvements to outcomes for our patients and the populations we serve.
By taking this approach, the NHS will become the first health service in the world to systematically embed genomics into routine care and make significant strides to create a system focused on improving health, not just treating illness, with the ability to predict accurately disease and tailor treatments. However, it will only be possible to secure the benefits if everyone, including patients, the whole multi-professional team across the care system medics, nurses, midwifes, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists and academics are able to actively contribute and make this vision a reality.
The GLH and GMS Alliance responsible for North London, and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, is called the North Thames. The North Thames GMS Alliance is hosted by UCLPartners and supported by Imperial College Health Partners. The North Thames GLH is led by Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Close working between the GMS Alliance, the GLH, clinical genetics services and all other healthcare providers is expected and will aim to make ordering nationally commissioned Genomic Tests accessible to all clinicians in the North Thames geography. Genomic testing is becoming available for most specialities including general physicians and community paediatricians throughout 2021.
Role & Responsibilities
This role presents an exciting opportunity for a General Practitioner Lead to join the newly established North Thames GMS Alliance team.
The GP Lead will work the Senior Management Team and Programme Management Office to provide a strategic overview and to support the development of the NT GMSA strategy to embed genomic medicine within primary and community based care. The strategy will have the aim of ensuring consistency in genomic testing across the North Thames geography through the development of an appropriate infrastructure (including digital technologies), education and training and workforce development for primary and community based care.
The GP Lead will have a key role in ensuring the NTGMS Alliance develops links across the Primary Care and Community Care environment to enable a dialogue which supports the development of the operational working relationships to take forward the strategy.
The GP Lead will also support the development of the education and training and workforce strategy and delivery plan; working across the GMS Alliance to develop and support the wider faculty of educators to enable the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently, with a focus on mainstreaming genomic medicine.
Working relationships
Internal
- Trust boards, ICSs and PCNs across the GMS Alliance geography
- NTGMS Alliance senior management team
- UCLPartners and Imperial College Health Partners AHSNs
External
- NHS England
- Public Health England
- Health Education England and Genomics Education Programme
- The national GMS alliance management board
- Other GMS Alliances across England
- Terms and Conditions
The PA allocation is between 2 PAs. The duration for the post is up to 31st March 2023 initially. The applicant should be working within the North Thames GMSA and will remain employed with their substantive employer for the duration of this role. This role is accountable to the Clinical Director of the NTGMS Alliance.
Organisation background
North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA)
Overview
The NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMS Alliance) is one of seven Alliances launched in England in January 2021. The GMS Alliances have been created to support the systematic implementation of genomic medicine into the mainstream healthcare system and harness the power of genomics to improve the health of our population. Through this work, the NHS will become the first health service in the world to embed genomics into routine care and make significant strides to create a system focused on improving health, not just by treating illness, but by better understanding the underlying cause, enabling more accurate prediction of disease and tailoring of treatments to individuals.
The North Thames GMS Alliance is a partnership across North East, Central and West London health and care partners including Trusts in West Hertfordshire and Mid and South Essex. The North Thames GMS Alliance is hosted by UCLPartners and supported by Imperial College Health Partners.
- The GMSA is working closely with the North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH), who are responsible for providing genomic and genetic testing in our region, led by Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust.
- Vision and Ambition
The North Thames GMS Alliance will work with all healthcare providers, patients and the public to build trust in genomics and support the multi-professional workforce to use genomics safely, effectively and efficiently.
By embedding genomics into the mainstream health service, our aim is to deliver improvements for patients including effective, quicker diagnosis of rare conditions, personalising treatment and care for those with inherited conditions and cancer, and building a better understanding of the underlying cause of many conditions.
