Table 1 Characteristics of participating cancer genetics services (CGSs)
Centre A | Centre B | Centre C | Centre D | Centre E | All five CGSs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional data | ||||||
Population (m) | 2.9 | 5.2 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
Referral rate (per million pop. p.a.) | 130 | 208 | 268 | 298 | 353 | 225 |
No. of designated clinics for cancer risk referrals (and location) | 0 | 2 (central hospitals) | 6 (breast and cancer clinics, local hospitals and breast screening unit) | 10 (general hospitals) | 1 (breast screening unit) | 19 |
No. of nondesignated clinics for cancer risk referrals (and location) | 7 (medical genetics clinics) | >22 across different clinic sites | 0 | 0 | 2 (medical genetics clinics) | >31 |
Service provision | ||||||
Extent of genetic testing (% of elevated risk) | 25 | 31 | 26 | 32 | 18 | 26 |
Referral criteria (% sent questionnaire) | 6 | 89 | 39 | 88 | 70 | 59 |
Mammography provided directly by CGS | No | No | Yes (some clinics) | No | Yes (some clinics) | — |
Median waiting time | 19 | 23 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 24 |
% subjects seen in designated CGS clinic | 94 | 42 | 75 | 100 | 100 | 82 |
Staffing | ||||||
Consultant (WTE) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 4.1 |
Other medic. (WTE) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.9 |
Genetic counsellor (WTE) | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 7.2 |
Dedicated cancer genetics consultant | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | — |
% Subjects seen by CGS consultant | 53 | 58 | 56 | 76 | 100 | 70 |
% Subjects seen by CGS clinician | 100 | 75 | 100 | 93 | 100 | 94 |
