As a midwife, you provide care throughout pregnancy in relation to genomics, from the early pregnancy booking, to examining the newborn child. Sometimes, the referral can be made at pre-conception clinics, when booking visits, or if an anomaly is identified via blood result or scans.
We have developed this page to support midwives and midwifery professionals on their own genomic journey.
We are currently developing new resources, including the trial of new 'Keeping MUM' pages which includes further information on genetic ‘red flags’ and acts as a prompt to complete an early referral to clinical genetics.
Other resources are listed below but if you would like to know more or have a specific question, then please email us via contactus@nw-gmsa.nhs.uk
More videos are available via YouTube, within GEPs account shown here https://www.youtube.com/@GenomicsEducation
Following a successful pilot, our colleagues NHS North East & Yorkshire Genomic Medicine Service is delighted to announce that the Prenatal Invasive Testing videos have now been launched and are available in the top 5 languages spoken in NEY: Arabic, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Urdu. 
These videos, accompanied by patient information leaflets, were developed with representatives from clinical practice, policy and education. They aim to support families understanding when they have been referred to specialist fetal medicine services for:
- Prenatal testing after an unexpected ultrasound finding
- Prenatal testing following a higher chance screening result
- Prenatal testing due to family history of a known genetic condition
Film Link - Prenatal Invasive Testing videos & information
The videos will now appear alongside endorsed staff resources on the NEY GMS website:
Films & Resources Link - Fetal Genomics Pathways Staff Resources
Within the webinar, Dr Saghira Malik Sharif, referenced her published paper 'Enhancing inclusion of diverse populations in genomics' PDF, which is avaialble to view here.
The first of our regional webinars, following the very successful national series in the summer of 2021.
Does Genomics interest you? Do you want to find out more?
If you are interested in the range of education and training resources and options available for midwives and midwifery professsionals across the North West as well as nationally, then please contact us by email to: contactus@nw-gmsa.nhs.uk
Below are links to education and training resources, including Health Education England's Genomic Education Programme, as well as links to further education opportunities.
Education and training resources
GEP continue to develop a comprehensive education programme to inform healthcare professionals about the impact of genomics on clinical practice. We have listed several pages below, but to find out more please visit: genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk
Genomics 101: From Genes to Genome
HEE-GEP offer a wide range of short, flexible e-learning courses. NB: To access this and any of the other online courses available, you will need to register via the eLearning for healthcare portal at https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/
Once the course has been completed, you are able to obtain a certificate for CPD points
Nursing Educator's Toolkit
GEP's Nursing Educator’s Toolkit, developed with representatives from nursing practice, policy, and education, was created to help educators embed genomics into their pre-registration teaching. The toolkit will now appear alongside other endorsed resources on the Royal College of Nursing RCN website.
The toolkit is a case study-based resource that aimsto demonstrate that genomics can be applied across many different fields and clinical situations within nursing practice. Each case study is mapped to the NMC Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses, and annotated with prompts that provide guidance for educators to widen the discussion.
For more information about the toolkit, please take a look at the FAQs available on the Genomic Education Programme website.
Close relative (consanguineous) marriage is widely practised globally. However, it is linked to an increased risk of recessive genetic disorders. Improving understanding about genetic inheritance can empower affected families and reduce unexpected, affected births and infant deaths. Healthcare professionals can do more to ensure equitable access to genetic information and services for affected families.
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/close-relative-marriage/
This programme has moved to the NHS Learning Hub. We recommend you read the information on this webpage to find out more about the programme before you access the learning (https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/close-relative-marriage). More information about the Learning Hub and the migration of elfh programmes can be found here.
The Government’s ambition is, by 2025, to halve rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth. Reducing genetic risk amongst “at risk” populations can contribute to meeting these targets and the legal duty to reduce inequalities under the NHS Constitution and the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
This elearning programme has been developed for health visitors, midwives, GPs, paediatricians, social workers, public health practitioners, as well as genetic counsellors.
By undertaking the programme, learners will:
- review national and local data and gain new understanding about the nature of this healthcare need
- identify concrete ways to improve the quality of their service
- feel confident in sharing good practice principles with colleagues
Assessments are undertaken to reflect on learners’ new knowledge. A certificate is available to download on completion.
Learners may also be interested in the Genomics Education Programme, available in the Genomics in the NHS elearning programme in the elfh Hub.
Funded Postgraduate courses
The Master’s Degree in Genomic Medicine is being delivered by The University Manchester in the North West. Individual modules can be studied on an assessed or non-assessed basis with students either choosing to take assessments and gain accreditation or alternatively only attending the face-to-face lectures delivered by the university without the requirement to carry out self-directed study outside of the sessions.
The GEPs Master’s in Genomic Medicine
This is a flexible educational programme designed to provide healthcare professionals with a multidisciplinary perspective on genomics and its applications in healthcare. Individuals can undertake continued personal and professional development (CPPD) modules, a postgraduate certificate or diploma, or a full master’s degree. NHS professionals can apply for course funding. For more information, please email contactus@nw-gmsa.nhs.uk
Are you a Diabetes specialist midwife? The University of Exeter offer two ways of learning more about Monogenic Diabetes. One is a two-day training course (face to face or virtual) and the other is a series of online lectures followed by multiple choice questions. To find out more information and to register visit: https://www.diabetesgenes.org/training/
Newsletters
Listed below are our Genomics in Practice newsletters for midwifery professionals. Other editions are available, for a variety of healthcare professions on our newsletter page.
If there is a particular area of your clinical practice that you would like to see featured in future editions, then please get in touch via our contactus@nw-gmsa.nhs.uk email address, or use our contact form.
