About us

We provide a service for a population of approximately three million people across:

• Oxfordshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Berkshire
• the Swindon area of Wiltshire.

Clinical Genetics lies in the Specialist Medicine Directorate, in the Medicine, Rehabilitation and Cardiac (MRC) Division.

Divisions

The Clinical Genetics Service offers a family-based service providing genetic advice for children and adults who have, or who may be at risk of inheriting, a genetic condition.

We offer genetic testing for carrier detection or prenatal diagnosis. We liaise closely with many other departments in the Trust, for example Cancer Services, the Inherited Heart Disease Clinic, Children's Services and Maternity Services.

Our role is largely diagnosis and advice on management of genetic conditions, rather than the treatment of symptoms.

Our team

Our team consists of:

• 13 NHS consultants
• University of Oxford Professors
• middle grade doctors in training
• genetic counsellors
• genetic counsellors in training
• genomic practitioners
• family history clinical preparation team (genomic nurses, associates and assistants)
• research staff
• patient pathway administrators
• departmental managers.

Genetic counsellors are qualified health professionals with specialist training and skills, who work with individuals and families that have, or may have inherited, genetic conditions.

Each clinic has a genetic counsellor who can provide information and support to patients. Many genetic counsellors also have areas of special expertise and use their varied backgrounds as a resource within the clinical team.

The clinical team meets regularly with the Oxford Genetics Laboratory staff in order to investigate our patients.

We maintain strong ties with the University of Oxford and other research groups working towards a greater understanding of genetic conditions. We are participating in the 100,000 Genomes Project.

We are part of the Central and South Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA).

We are part of the Southwest of Britain Genetics Consortium. Our professional bodies are the Clinical Genetics Society, Cancer Genetics Group, Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors and British Society of Genetic Medicine.

We have affiliations with the European Society of Human Genetics and the American Society of Human Genetics.

Please look at the FAQs section of this website if you think you, a member of your family or your patient may need to be referred to the Clinical Genetics Service.

Charitable donations

If you would like to support the Clinical Genetics Department with a charitable donation, please visit our hospital charity website for further details.

Oxford Hospitals Charity