Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh) in partnership with the HEE Genomics Education Programme (GEP) are delighted to launch their new Genomics in the NHS programme; a collection of elearning sessions designed for all healthcare professionals looking to learn more about genomics.

With the launch of the NHS Genomics Medicine Service in England, more healthcare professionals than ever before are likely to encounter genomics in their daily role. As it increasingly becomes part of routine care, all healthcare professionals, not just those within specialist departments, will need some level of understanding of the impact genomics will have on the diagnosis, treatment and management of a wide variety of conditions.

This new programme seeks to meet this educational need in an open, collaborative way, by inviting genomics educators from across the NHS to contribute their educational resources and courses.

About the Genomics in the NHS programme

The Genomics in the NHS programme is a collection of new and refreshed elearning sessions developed by NHS educational teams to support and educate all healthcare professionals about genomic medicine and the benefits it is bringing to patient care.

The programme was developed to incorporate elearning resources from Health Education England’s Genomics Education Programme (GEP) along with other contributors. The programme launches with elearning from the GEP and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.

New and refreshed elearning sessions

The GEP’s content features a range of foundation and specialist courses on a wide range of topics related to genomics. Learners with no or limited exposure to genomics can build up their knowledge with the Genomics 101 collection, comprising nine short introductory courses covering the basic of DNA, genetic inheritance, genetic testing and communicating with patients about genomics.

Meanwhile, healthcare professionals who are already familiar with genomics can access more tailored sessions, designed for those who support patients through genomic testing, including whole genome sequencing.

The Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust has contributed its first elearning resources to the Genomics in the NHS programme. The sessions have been designed to assist healthcare professionals working with patients with rare diseases, looking to understand and integrate genomics into their clinical practice.

Learners will be provided with an overview of basic, general genomics knowledge, which will then be assessed. They will examine genomic knowledge specific to their area of practice, by identifying common genetic conditions. They will also examine local pathways and support systems for the patients and are encouraged to support their learning and case-based discussions with the help of a local facilitator.

Further information and guidance

To find out more about the work of the GEP and its courses, resources and tools available for the NHS workforce, visit the GEP website at www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk

Learners completing the modules by Liverpool Women’s Trust may be interested in further guidance and reading, which is linked to module and written for patients. You can access the guidance by selecting: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/our-services/liverpool-centre-for-genomic-medicine-lcgm/

Accessing the elearning

For more information and to access the sessions, please visit the Genomics in the NHS programme page.

You can work through the elearning programme at your own pace and revisit content at any time.

With genomics moving into the mainstream through the new NHS Genomic Medicine Service, it has never been more vital that health professionals gain an understanding of genomics and its applications in healthcare.

To meet this need, the Genomics Education Programme (GEP) has launched the first in a new series of introductory courses that aim to give health professionals an overview of the fundamentals of genomics and its impact on patient care. Created for those with little or no previous knowledge of genomics, each of the courses will focus on a key aspect of genomics, from the underlying science to the clinical practice.

Lasting no more than 30-40 minutes each, learners will develop their understanding of genomics through written content, infographics, film, animation and interactive elements, and can test their knowledge with a final quiz.

All our 101 courses are available through the Health Education England elearning for healthcare (elfh) Hub and are free to access for NHS staff and universities in the UK. At the end of each session, there is an opportunity to demonstrate what has been learnt through a short quiz and a certificate of participation.