Genetics
careers in the NHS
The NHS provides
Clinical (or Medical) Genetics services throughout the UK, for diagnosis,
counselling and in some cases treatment of patients and their families.
This service relies on the skills
of professionals in a variety of careers: medical,
paramedical and scientific.
Summaries of these careers, and what training is involved, are given below
along with links to further information.
Medical
and paramedical professionals
- Clinical Geneticists
Clinical Geneticists are medical doctors. After medical school, general
professional training (3 to 5 years) in General Medicine and/or Paediatrics
is required along with a post-graduate diploma (usually MRCP or MRCPCH).
This is followed by competitive entry into a 4 year Specialist
Registrar training post.
These websites explain what Clinical Geneticists
do:
British
Society of Human Genetics official document
NHS
Careers profile
This website provides full information about
Clinical Geneticist training:
Joint
Committee on Higher Medical Training (PDF)
- Genetic Nurses and Genetic Counsellors
Genetic Nurses and Counsellors provide genetic counselling in community
or clinical settings.
Genetic Nurses usually train as graduate
nurses or midwives prior to specialising in genetics. The minimum
additional requirements are two years practice as a graduate nurse
or midwife, plus completion of at least 120 hours of counselling skills
training.
Genetic Counsellors are
non-medical health professionals who work primarily with families
at high genetic risk. According to the Association of Genetic Nurses
and Counsellors (AGNC), their training should include "experience
of working with people, genetics education, counselling skills training,
and training in teaching adults".
This website provides further
information about the roles and training of both
Genetic Nurses and Genetic Counsellors:
Association
of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors training information
Scientific
professionals:
- Clinical Cytogeneticists
Clinical cytogeneticists are laboratory-based scientists who process
and analyse samples taken from patients in order to detect chromosome
abnormalities. Samples can be from newborn babies, patients with reproductive
problems, prenatal tests or patients with suspected blood diseases such
as acute leukaemia.
These websites provide further information about Clinical Cytogeneticists'
role and training:
NHS
Careers profile
Association
of Clinical Cytogeneticists
- Molecular Geneticists
Molecular Geneticists are laboratory-based scientists who carry out
DNA analysis on samples taken from patients. Types of analysis include
prenatal diagnosis, carrier testing for pre-symptomatic individuals,
and confirmation of diagnosis for patients with genetic disorders.
These websites provide further information about Molecular Geneticists'
role and training:
NHS
Careers profile
Clinical
Molecular Genetics Society
Genetics
research
Research scientists are largely
employed by universities, the government (e.g. through the NHS) or by
industry. Entry requirements to each of these sectors are similar (generally
a PhD is required, but research assistants normally have a first degree
only).
The aims of the research and
the working conditions (including salary levels and the freedom to pursue
research in areas of interest to the individual) differ significantly.
For descriptions of careers
in research, working conditions, career development etc, plus case studies
of real scientists, follow these links:
Research
Scientist (life science)
Research
Scientist (medical)
Scientist,
industrial research
Online
job databases for medical and research positions
National and international
databases
NHS
Jobs
New Scientist
Jobs
The Guardian, science and engineering jobs
The Guardian, health and social care jobs
The
Times appointments
Find a PhD
UK academic jobs
Nature appointments
jobsite,
pharmaceutical and medical jobs
jobsite,
scientific jobs
London IDEAS hospitals databases
Institute
of Child Health / Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
UCL Hospital
Guy’s
and St Thomas’ Hospital
St
George’s Hospital Medical School
St
George's Hospital
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