The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) was launched by the Commissioner in 2018 and enables patients in the NHS in England to equitably access cutting edge genomic testing and clinical services that support diagnosis and treatment pathways for cancer, for rare and inherited disease and, in the application of pharmacogenomics, for medicines optimisation.
The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) and NHS GMS Alliances operate through respective Lead Provider contracts, which expire on 31 March 2026.
There is now an opportunity for the Commissioner to explore the potential to establish a ‘Single NHS GMS’ model by bringing together the existing functions of the NHS GLHs and the NHS GMS Alliances into singular functions of the NHS GMS.
This is envisaged to require NHS England to contract with a Lead Provider in each existing geography of the NHS GMS, (North West, North East and Yorkshire, South West, East, North Thames, Central and South and South East) and for each Lead Provider to provide the full functionality of the Single NHS GMS model.
NHS England recently launched a market engagement exercise, inviting expressions of interest in delivering the future requirements of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS). We (East GMS) responded to this exercise along with our partner organisations.
Next steps:
- The formal procurement exercise will be launched on 21 July along with the publishing of the service specification.
- We will continue to work with our regional partners to respond to the service specification once it is published.
- For more information please contact egmsa@nnuh.nhs.uk