Clinical genetics is a specialist regional service based at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. For each discipline and area there is at least one designated consultant clinical geneticist and genetic counsellor with outreach clinics held across the West Midlands region. The service includes the Clinical Genetics Service and the West Midlands Family Cancer Service (WMFACS). Specific information relating to the service can be found here.
General and multidisciplinary specialist Genetics clinics are held at a variety of locations throughout Coventry and Warwickshire. Patients referred to the Clinical Genetics Service are allocated a Consultant Geneticist and/or Genetic Counsellor based on their address. In some cases patients may be invited to Birmingham to attend supra-regional clinics for example in the management of ophthalmic genetics, neurogenetics, skeletal dysplasia or long QT syndromes.
Coventry: Consultant: Dr Lily Islam. Regular clinics are undertaken, some are at UHC&W and once a month a clinic is held jointly with a pediatrician at the City of Coventry Health Centre.
Genetic Counsellor Julie Hewitt: Regular clinic at the City of Coventry Health Centre.
Julie.hewitt@bwnft.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 627 2630 or mobile: 07958 702724
Warwickshire: Consultant: Dr Nicola Ragge Clinics are held at Warwick Hospital and St Cross Rugby.
Consultant: Dr Swati Naik. Clinics are held at George Eliot Nuneaton Genetic Counsellors: Claire Dolling and Liz Kay (job share) undertake clinics at a variety of locations throughout Warwickshire
Claire.dolling@bwnft.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 627 2630 or mobile: 07791 329091
Liz.kay@bwnft.nhs.uk Tel: 0121 627 2630 or mobile: 07815 315147
Specialist Neurogenetics Clinic Consultants: Dr Mary O’Driscoll/Dr Nicola Cooper. Regular clinics are undertaken at UHC&W.
Cancer Genetics Coventry and Warwickshire Consultant: Dr Kai ren Ong
Genetic Counsellors: Anna Considine: Clinics held at UHC&W, Julie Hewitt City of Coventry Health Centre and Fiona Beecroft clinics held at George Eliot, Rugby St Cross and Warwick Hospital.
In response to a referral the patient is sent a family history form. Alternatively patients can be given a family history form to complete or complete an electronic form on line via our website. When this is completed and returned the diagnoses are confirmed through the cancer intelligence unit (with appropriate consents). An assessment of risk is then made and the patient offered an appointment with a Genetic Counsellor or Consultant, or reassured by letter if at low risk.
In families where the affected relative is terminally ill a Genetic Counsellor may contact the family straight away as it may be important to offer to store a DNA sample
Contacts For urgent enquiries a duty geneticist is available on 0121 627 2630 to discuss urgent problems or referrals. For pregnancy referrals the genetic counsellor can be contacted directly or if unavailable please contact the department directly on 0121 627 2630.
Referrals Please address these to the relevant consultant at Birmingham Women's Hospital:
Consultant Clinical Geneticist Birmingham Women's Hospital Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TG Telephone: 0121 627 2630 Fax: 0121 627 2618
Information for laboratory services can be found at http://www.bwnft.nhs.uk/wmrgs/regionalgenetics/ Telephone 0121 627 2710