At the heart of genomic mainstreaming: an evaluation of a nurse specialist-led cardiac genetic clinic

The integration of genomics into routine patient care is a key priority outlined in the NHS England (2022) ‘Accelerating genomic medicine in the NHS’ strategy. This article describes the implementation and outcomes of a nurse-led genetic counselling service for patients with inherited cardiac conditions at the King's Health Partners Inherited Cardiac Conditions service. The nurse-led model aims to streamline the patient journey by embedding genetic counselling and testing within the cardiology care pathway, reducing waiting times, and ensuring timely diagnosis and continuity of care. An audit of this service covers the period from April 2021 to March 2024, highlighting the growth of use of genetic testing, and the outcomes of these tests. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the nurse-led model in delivering high-quality, patient-centred genomic care, and its potential to serve as a model for mainstreaming genomics in other specialties. The article also discusses current challenges and future directions for the service, emphasising the importance of continuous improvement and the role of nurse specialists in the consistent delivery of genomic care for patients with inherited cardiac conditions.