Patients across the North West of England are benefiting from faster access to genetic testing as genomic medicine becomes embedded within routine cancer care.
In the past, patients who required genetic testing were often referred to specialist genetics centres, sometimes involving additional appointments at different hospitals. Today, many oncology teams can initiate genomic testing directly within their own services — bringing genetics closer to patients and helping clinicians make more informed treatment decisions earlier.
At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Family History and Genomic Mainstreaming Practitioners Charlotte Knowles and Mandy Darbyshire are seeing first-hand how this shift is changing clinical practice.
Faster access and fewer hospital visits
Mainstreaming genomics means genetic testing is now integrated into cancer care pathways rather than sitting outside them.
Charlotte Knowles explains that this change has made a noticeable difference to routine care.
“Mainstreaming has made a big difference. A lot more patients are coming through who are aware of genetics, particularly in breast cancer. Instead of referring them elsewhere, we can often organise testing within their local hospital trust.”
For patients, this means fewer separate appointments and faster access to important information that could influence treatment decisions.
Genetics discussed earlier in care
Genomics is also becoming a standard part of multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions — where clinicians from different specialties review patient cases and plan treatment.
Rather than considering genetics later in the patient journey, teams are now discussing it much earlier.
Mandy Darbyshire says: “It’s now part of our MDT discussions. We consider whether a patient meets the criteria for genetic testing based on their cancer diagnosis and family history. It’s no longer an afterthought.”
By identifying eligible patients earlier, clinicians can ensure genetic testing is initiated promptly and integrated into treatment planning.
Supporting personalised treatment
Early genetic testing can also help clinicians plan more personalised treatments.
Having genomic information available from the start of a patient’s cancer journey means clinicians may already know which therapies could be effective if the disease progresses.
“We’re doing testing at the beginning so that we have that information early,” Mandy explains. “If a patient progresses, we already know what personalised therapies might be appropriate.”
For example, some targeted treatments — such as PARP inhibitors — may be considered when certain genetic mutations are identified.
Building genomic awareness among clinicians
Embedding genomic expertise within hospital teams is also increasing awareness of genetics among clinicians who may not specialise in the field.
Charlotte says the presence of dedicated genomic practitioners helps ensure genetics remains part of everyday conversations. “Because we’re there, genetics doesn’t get forgotten. It’s not just something people hear about in a one-off lecture — it becomes part of routine care.”
As a result, clinicians are increasingly confident about identifying when genetics may be relevant and seeking specialist advice when needed.
More conversations about family history
Another change is the growing number of discussions clinicians have with patients about their family history.
Assessing family history remains an important part of identifying people who may benefit from genetic testing.
“We’re having more family history conversations to see whether patients meet different criteria for genetic testing,” Mandy says.
Even when patients do not meet testing criteria, these discussions help ensure genetic risk factors are considered consistently across care pathways.
Transforming cancer care
The experiences of Charlotte and Mandy highlight how genomic mainstreaming is reshaping cancer services across the region.
By embedding genomic expertise within oncology teams, healthcare services are:
- speeding up access to genetic testing
- integrating genomic information earlier into treatment planning
- increasing awareness of genetics among clinicians
- supporting more personalised cancer care
As genomic medicine continues to evolve, integrating these approaches into everyday clinical practice will be key to delivering the next generation of precision oncology.
March 2026