04/05/2004
Birmingham trust nominated to run £1.8m genetics centre
Birmingham Women's Healthcare Trust have won a bid to run the new Genetics Education and Development Centre.
The Centre, which will educate NHS staff about genetics and the role it plays in modern healthcare, is part of the Government's wider £50 million strategy to make sure that patients benefit from the latest developments in genetic knowledge.
It has been set up in response to the increasing need for staff to understand how a patient's genetic make-up affects the likelihood of developing different diseases, and how they might respond to different medicines.
Announcing the winning bid today Health Secretary John Reid said: "Birmingham should be proud that it will become the centre for genetics education for the whole NHS. The Birmingham Women's Healthcare Trust beat distinguished rivals to become the home of this new education centre. It is part of a £50 million pound Government strategy to ensure NHS patients benefit fully from the latest developments in genetic knowledge.
"Improving the understanding and knowledge of staff is key if NHS patients are to fully benefit from the genetics revolution. Clinical staff need to know how genetic technology can be used in diagnosis, prevention and treatment so that they can help patients make informed choices about whether to take a genetic test or which treatment to choose.
This centre will mean that education in genetics will become an integral part of all professional training programmes, not only for undergraduates but also for existing staff".
Allocated £600,000-a-year for an initial three-year period. the centre will be staffed by a team of specialists from education and clinical practice led by Professor Peter Farndon, who is recognised as one of the leading figures in genetics in the UK and has particular expertise in education.
Affiliated to NHSU, the centre will work with professional and academic bodies as well as other training providers to identify the learning and skills gaps for different groups of staff, particularly GPs so that they are able to access genetics education and training when required.
The centre will be responsible for identifying the core skills which all genetic training and education should cover, producing materials to support learning.
Seminars and workshops to help to raise the profile of genetics will also be run.
(SP)
The Centre, which will educate NHS staff about genetics and the role it plays in modern healthcare, is part of the Government's wider £50 million strategy to make sure that patients benefit from the latest developments in genetic knowledge.
It has been set up in response to the increasing need for staff to understand how a patient's genetic make-up affects the likelihood of developing different diseases, and how they might respond to different medicines.
Announcing the winning bid today Health Secretary John Reid said: "Birmingham should be proud that it will become the centre for genetics education for the whole NHS. The Birmingham Women's Healthcare Trust beat distinguished rivals to become the home of this new education centre. It is part of a £50 million pound Government strategy to ensure NHS patients benefit fully from the latest developments in genetic knowledge.
"Improving the understanding and knowledge of staff is key if NHS patients are to fully benefit from the genetics revolution. Clinical staff need to know how genetic technology can be used in diagnosis, prevention and treatment so that they can help patients make informed choices about whether to take a genetic test or which treatment to choose.
This centre will mean that education in genetics will become an integral part of all professional training programmes, not only for undergraduates but also for existing staff".
Allocated £600,000-a-year for an initial three-year period. the centre will be staffed by a team of specialists from education and clinical practice led by Professor Peter Farndon, who is recognised as one of the leading figures in genetics in the UK and has particular expertise in education.
Affiliated to NHSU, the centre will work with professional and academic bodies as well as other training providers to identify the learning and skills gaps for different groups of staff, particularly GPs so that they are able to access genetics education and training when required.
The centre will be responsible for identifying the core skills which all genetic training and education should cover, producing materials to support learning.
Seminars and workshops to help to raise the profile of genetics will also be run.
(SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
04 January 2005
£2.5m to support cystic fibrosis gene therapy research
Health Minister, Lord Warner, has announced the winning bids for £2.5 million to support further research into gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF).
£2.5m to support cystic fibrosis gene therapy research
Health Minister, Lord Warner, has announced the winning bids for £2.5 million to support further research into gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF).
24 June 2003
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
13 May 2003
Tories pledge to scrap university tuition fees
In a gentle change of tack over the past few weeks, the Conservative Party has taken the initiative and published a clutch of policies pledges – the foremost of which is today's plans to scrap university tuition fees and abandon entrance targets.
Tories pledge to scrap university tuition fees
In a gentle change of tack over the past few weeks, the Conservative Party has taken the initiative and published a clutch of policies pledges – the foremost of which is today's plans to scrap university tuition fees and abandon entrance targets.
26 March 2013
Job Centre's Referring Claimants To Food Banks
Job Centre staff are referring thousands of welfare recipients to food bank, over concerns they have not got enough money to eat, according to the BBC. Benefits officials have given around 6,000 people vouchers for emergency food parcels in the last year, figures obtained by the BBC suggest.
Job Centre's Referring Claimants To Food Banks
Job Centre staff are referring thousands of welfare recipients to food bank, over concerns they have not got enough money to eat, according to the BBC. Benefits officials have given around 6,000 people vouchers for emergency food parcels in the last year, figures obtained by the BBC suggest.
28 August 2015
Staff Stage Strike Action At DVLA Centre
Hundreds of staff have gone on strike at a DVLA contact centre in Swansea. A total of 650 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) members are staging a three day strike from today, 28 August, in a dispute about weekend working allowances.
Staff Stage Strike Action At DVLA Centre
Hundreds of staff have gone on strike at a DVLA contact centre in Swansea. A total of 650 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) members are staging a three day strike from today, 28 August, in a dispute about weekend working allowances.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.