Reality not hype: the new genetics in primary care 

Introduction to the conference report

Dr James Mackay, Consultant Clinical Genetic Oncologist, London IDEAS Genetics Knowledge Park

We have produced this report as a record of the successful meeting, Reality not hype: the new genetics in primary care held in the Royal College of Physicians in London on Friday 30 th January 2004. I was delighted to chair the working party which planned this meeting; the first large collaborative event, involving input from all six Genetics Knowledge Parks, and generous sponsorship from several organisations. We planned the day to evolve from a series of short information giving presentations in the morning, to several interactive workshops and then a final panel discussion in the afternoon.

All members of the working party believe that genetics is going to have a major impact on the delivery of clinical care over the next decade. I use clinical care to mean not only treatment of disease, but also the improvement of public health in the broadest sense. It is therefore particularly appropriate that this conference was held in the Royal College of Physicians, with its ancient and proud tradition of improving public health since its creation by Royal Charter in 1518.

I believe it is impossible to predict how the explosion in new genetic knowledge is going to impact on the delivery of health care, which is why it is so important to open the dialogue with primary care now. Our meeting evolved into a two-way discussion rather than a one-way lecture, and I do hope you enjoy reading this interesting account of a stimulating day.