Programme overview
Recent technological advances are shaping testing and counselling options in prenatal genetics.
This skills based course is designed to give midwives and other health professionals working in a prenatal testing setting tools to help them to enable patients to access appropriate onwards referral. These include obtaining a family history, identify high risk family histories, approaches to genetic testing, consent taking and counselling skills associated with providing information and results.
The course will provide the background scientific knowledge needed to understand the theory behind the application of genetics in a prenatal setting. The scientific content will be complemented with case based examples and practical exercises to connect the scientific theory to the application in your day to day practice.
Participants will be equipped with the basics of prenatal genetic counselling and managing complex scenarios as well as an update on new technologies. They will also gain skills in taking a family history and assessing when a referral on to clinical genetics is indicated.
All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the course. This course is Royal College of Midwives (RCM) accredited.
Who should attend
This course is designed for midwives, sonographers or other healthcare professionals who wish to gain an introduction or update of prenatal genetics.
Course Director
Charlotte Tomlinson
Consultant general genetic counsellor and clinical genetics PGT-M/SR lead, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT)
Sessions will be delivered by various GSTT expert speakers.
Format
The course will take place on six half day sessions between 14 October and 26 November 2025 on Zoom. (Please note these sessions will not be repeated nor recorded):
Day 1, Tuesday 14 October 2025. Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Introduction to Basic Genetics and Inheritance
Day 2, Wednesday 15 October 2025. Time: 9:30am – 12:45pm
- Testing options in a Prenatal setting
Day 3, Tuesday 4 November 2025. Time: 9:30am – 12:45pm
- Testing options in a Prenatal setting continued
Day 4, Wednesday 5 November 2025. Time 9:30am – 12:20pm
- Impact of a genetic condition
Day 5, Tuesday 25 November 2025. Time 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Impact of a genetic condition continued
Day 6, Wednesday 26 November 2025. Time 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Emotional aspects