United Kingdom - Department of Health - National Health Syustem 

Our Inheritance, Our Future

Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS

Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health
By Command of Her Majesty
June 2003

This White Paper sets out a plan of action and investment in genetics for the NHS in England, as well as covering wider UK genetics policy issues. Activity on genetics health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is summarised at Annex A.

© Crown Copyright 2003

Index

Foreword by Prime Minister Tony Blair Generating new knowledge and applications
Foreward by Secretary of State for Health Ensuring public confidence
Recognising the potential
Strengthening specialised services		 Annex A - Genetics services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Building genetics into mainstream services Annex B - Advisory Panel
Spreading knowledge across the NHS Glossary

 

Any comments or queries on this document should be addressed to
Genetics White Paper, Genetics Branch,
Department of Health, Room 651C, Skipton House,
80 London Road, London SE1 6LH.
Geneticswhitepaper@doh.gsi.gov.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreword by the Prime Minister

Our country has a remarkable scientific tradition. The extraordinary achievements of Newton, Darwin and a host of other eminent scientists have both greatly increased the understanding of our world and improved the quality of life for everyone.

Our record continues to be outstanding; with just one per cent of the world's population, we receive nine per cent of scientific citations. Nowhere has this record been more notable in recent decades than in bio-science and bio-technology.

The discovery in Britain of the structure of DNA 50 years ago - perhaps the biggest single scientific advance of the last century - marked the beginning of a golden age of bio-science in Britain which continues today. It is likely to have as big an impact on our lives in the coming century as the computer had for the last generation.

The more we understand about the human genome, the greater will be the impact on our lives and on our healthcare. As an increasing number of diseases are linked to particular genes or gene sequences, we will be able to target and tailor treatment better to offset their impact and even to avoid the onset of ill-health many years in advance.

I am proud to know that much of this ground-breaking work is already taking place in our country. I am also absolutely determined that the National Health Service should be able to respond to these advances so the benefits of genetics and the more personalised and improved healthcare it will bring are available to all.

It means we must prepare now for the future. We must invest in research and research facilities to drive further discovery. We must ensure the NHS has the skills and expertise to make best use of these advances. And we must also be ready to explain clearly and consistently to patients the new health care choices this will bring. Through the independent experts on the Human Genetics Commission we will ensure that people have access to advice about human genetics and the social and ethical issues involved. This is the best way of easing understandable public anxiety about the coming revolution in health care.

This White Paper sets out how the Government intends to achieve all these goals. It also underlines our determination to ensure the NHS and its patients get the maximum benefit from the pioneering work already under way and the transformation it will bring in the delivery of health care in this country.

Tony Blair

Foreword

Advances in human genetics will have a profound impact on healthcare. Over time we will see new ways of predicting and preventing ill health, more targeted and effective use of existing drugs and the development of new gene-based drugs and therapies that treat illness in novel ways. Above all, genetics holds out the promise of more personalised healthcare with prevention and treatment tailored according to a person's individual genetic profile.

The Government recognises and welcomes the potential offered by genetics to improve our health and healthcare. Britain's academic and industrial research prowess means that we are already amongst the leading players in genetics research and development. We are determined to harness that potential and to ensure that the benefits of genetics are realised throughout the NHS.

In April 2001, the Government announced new investment of £30 million to develop our specialised genetics services. This is already enabling them to see more patients and improve genetic testing provision. But there is much more to be done if the NHS is to be ready to cope with future demand and if genetic based healthcare is to expand and permeate every area of medicine as new genetics tests and therapies come on stream.

Our vision is that the NHS should lead the world in taking maximum advantage of the application of the new genetic knowledge for the benefit of all patients. Over the next three years, the Government will invest an additional £50 million in England in developing genetics knowledge, skills and provision within the NHS. This document sets out how that money will be spent. By building on our strengths and starting to prepare now, genetic advances can deliver real and lasting benefits in health and healthcare for all of us.

Secretary of State for Health



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