Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve access to genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular conditions.

Genomic testing in the National Health Service plays an important role in diagnosing and managing inherited cardiovascular conditions. The National Genomic Test Directory (NGTD) outlines eligibility criteria for genomic testing, including for conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia, cardiomyopathies, Long QT syndrome, and Brugada syndrome. The NGTD is reviewed annually, with input from expert groups, to ensure it reflects the latest scientific advances and delivers value for money.

Seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances improve access to genomic testing, including for cardiovascular conditions, through the systematic embedding of genomics in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, as well as improving clinicians’ awareness of genomic testing services available for patients.

The 10-Year Health Plan committed to creating a genomics population health service by the end of the decade. This will support earlier detection of inherited causes of major diseases and begin integrating genomic insights into cardiovascular disease prevention and care, including through a service evaluation with Our Future Health on Integrated Risk Scores and through neighbourhood health teams to increase equitable uptake of genomic testing.