The theme for Genomics Conversation Week 2025 is 'Creating Connections'. For day 2, we asked clinicians working in genomics how they are 'creating connections with colleagues' around Trusts in the East of England and East Midlands.
Rebecca Jenner, Lead Maternal Medicine and Diabetes Midwife, Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn
As well as being Lead Maternal Midwife and Diabetes Midwife at QEH, I am project lead midwife with the GMSA where I am leading efforts to improve equitable access to genetic testing for the small subset of women with gestational diabetes who may carry a genetic variant.
How are you creating connections with healthcare staff?
A genetics and genomics tab has been created on our Trust's divisional learning page with some great links for staff to access information around genetics and genomics and how these topics relate to their practice. The hope is that these will inform future professional development and practice.
I also offer a monthly teaching session as part of the mandatory training programme for all maternity staff. I have started to introduce conversations around testing for Glucokinase Hyperglycaemia (GCK) into this teaching session, and this will be developed further as the service progresses.
How are these connections helping to support colleagues with mainstreaming genomic medicine?
At this early stage I am making connections with Diabetes specialist midwives at Trusts within the East of England and East Midlands to introduce testing for GCK within the GDM population, this will begin to introduce genomic testing into practice, for staff members who may not have been previously involved in genomic medicine.
What advice do you have for healthcare professionals wanting to find out more about bringing genomics into their practice?
The NHS Futures collaboration website (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab) is a fantastic resource to access information around genomics and genetics. The nature of the website allows users to access webinars that they may not have been able to access live, due to their work commitments.
