We are writing to support the integration of genetic counsellors into the healthcare system in Europe. As the use of genetic and genomic testing is being greatly extended across a range of specialties, there is a high demand for practitioners who can provide appropriate information to families about their condition and about genetic and genomic testing, facilitate their decision-making about testing and support them to adjust to their diagnosis or genetic risk situation. Genetic counsellors are trained to support and complement medical colleagues to address this increasing demand for services.

At present, there are three main professions involved in providing specialist genetic services to patients: these are medically trained clinical geneticists, clinical laboratory geneticists and genetic counsellors. All three professions are considered by the European genetics community to be essential to providing patient care. Genetic counsellors join the profession from a variety of backgrounds (such as nursing, midwifery, biology or psychology) and after appropriate accredited training (at Master’s degree level), provide support to patients and families with genetic concerns, assisting their medical colleagues before, during and after the clinical appointment and also see patient autonomously in the genetics clinic once a genetic diagnosis is established. While medical geneticists are heavily involved in diagnosis of genetic conditions, genetic counsellors work alongside them to provide information to patients, to prepare patients for genetic and genomic testing and help patients to reflect on whether or when to proceed with such tests, to explain results and to support patients and their families over the longer term.

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