Tensions in implementing the new genetics

doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7255.240/b

BMJ 2000;321:240 ( 22 July )

Letters

Tensions in implementing the new genetics

General practitioners in south Wales are unconvinced of their role in genetics services

Genetic counsellors could be based in genetic centres but be formally linked to general practices

General practitioners need not view new genetics as catastrophe

Authors' reply

General practitioners in south Wales are unconvinced of their role in genetics services

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Kumar and Gantley's work opens a necessary debate about the role of general practitioners in providing genetic services.¹Specialists suggest that many aspects of genetics services shouldbe offered in primary care. This is argued on the basis of familiaritywith families and their dynamics, access to a life long clinicalrecord, in the NHS at least, and the provision of potentiallycontinuous care. But there are large doubts about the capacityof general practice to shoulder this new work.²

Our early analysis of research work conducted with general practitioners in south Wales over the last six months of 1999 confirmsthe lack of detailed knowledge about genetics in general and cancergenetics in particular. More importantly perhaps, genetics doesnot seem to be considered a relevant priority compared with otherpressures faced by general practitioners. The call of Watson etal for an increase in educational activity in . . . [Full text of this article]

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