05/07/2004

Warner announces successful genetic funding areas

Health Minister Lord Warner today announced six areas which will receive a share of £18 million of government funding to upgrade their genetic laboratories.

London, the South and East, West Midlands, East Midlands, South Yorkshire, North West and Northern Yorkshire will all benefit from the new investment, which aims to help patients get genetic test results quicker.

Lord Warner said: "Genetics will have a profound impact on healthcare helping to predict and prevent ill health. That is why a year ago the government announced an extra £50 million of investment to make sure that the NHS is on a sound footing to reap the benefits of the latest advances in genetics.

"As our understanding of genetics develops, we will be able to test patients for common diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and thus benefit much larger numbers of patients. The funding announced today will greatly increase the capacity of the NHS to provide access to these new genetic tests and also get results to patients more quickly".

The laboratories will use the funding to modernise equipment and to develop better ways of working. This will mean patients can expect to wait less time for their test results - within three days when the result is urgently needed - as well as improving access to a wider range of tests.

(MB)

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