Central Manchester & Manchester Childrens University Hospital


Clinical Genetics - Information for Patients Referred to the Genetics Department

Why have I been referred to the Genetic Clinic? How can genetic counselling help me? Will I be given advice? What will happen now? What family details are helpful? What will happen when I come to clinic? What will happen afterwards? How do I get to the genetic clinic? Links to some useful websites IF YOU CANNOT COME TO YOUR APPOINTMENT, PLEASE 'PHONE US ON : 0161 276 6506 (Mon - Fri 9.00 am - 5.00 pm) Answer phone available outside these hours. Why have I been referred to the Genetic Clinic? Some of the reasons for being referred include: A condition that runs in your family or your partner's family. You or your partner already have a child with a physical or developmental problem. You or your partner have a disorder that might be passed on to your children. You or your partner have experienced problems with pregnancy loss. Particular types of cancer have occurred in several close relatives. Back to Top How can genetic counselling help me? There are several ways the clinical geneticist (doctor) and genetic associate (counsellor) can help to answer your concerns. Some of these are: Making or confirming a diagnosis. Providing information about the condition. Discussing the risk that you may be affected by the condition in the future. Discussing the risk that future children may be affected with the condition if it already occurs in your family. Explaining the types of tests available. Talking about ways of coping with the condition and the medical and social support available to you. Note: Not everybody who comes to our clinic has a genetic condition. Back to Top Will I be given advice? Genetic counselling can help you make well-informed decisions for the future. Many people assume that the doctor will tell or advise them what to do when faced with difficult decisions. Instead, we concentrate on providing information and discussing options to help people make the best decisions for themselves. Back to Top What will happen now? The genetic counsellor will usually talk with you on the 'phone. Sometimes, however, we arrange an appointment for you to come straight up to the clinic, or we arrange to visit you at home. This'phone call allows time to ask you for details about your family. This helps us to give you accurate information in clinic. It also gives you time to talk about any concerns you have before you come to clinic. After the visit or 'phone call, you will receive your clinic appointment letter to see a genetic counsellor or clinical geneticist (doctor). If you need an interpreter, please let us know. We can provide one for both the home visit and the clinic. Back to Top What family details are helpful? For as many close relatives as possible and for any other affected people in your family, it is helpful for us to know: Their full name. Their date of birth. Their address. Their GP's name and address. If appropriate, it may also be helpful to know: The diagnosis they were given. When and where they were diagnosed or treated. We will not ask for medical records of relatives without permission. We will also not contact any of your relatives unless you specifically ask us to do so. Back to Top What will happen when I come to clinic? Please check your appointment letter for the location of the clinic. Your partner or another relative or friend is welcome to come with you. The clinical geneticist and/or genetic counsellor will discuss your concerns with you. They will check out the family details you discussed with the genetic associate before the clinic. If appropriate, the doctor may want to examine you. Sometimes it is necessary for the doctor to gather more information and/or arrange tests. When there is a genetic disease in the family, the condition will be explained and you are encouraged to ask questions. You may find it helpful to write these down beforehand. To allow plenty of time for your appointment, each clinic appointment is at least half an hour. *If you are unable to come, it is very important that you let us know as soon as possible, so that we can give your appointment to someone else.* Back to Top What will happen afterwards? You may be offered a follow-up appointment. You will also be sent a letter to summarise what has been discussed. If you agree, we will send a copy of this to your GP and any other specialists who are looking after you. Back to Top How do I find the genetic clinic? Click here for directions to clinic Back to Top Links to some websites you might find useful Click here for links to some websites you might find useful Back to Top