Clinical Guidelines for Genetics Services - 2021

Clinical Guidelines for Genetics Services - 2021

The primary focus of the guidelines are to promote the prevention, screening, diagnosis (clinical and laboratory) and management of congenital disorders, including genetic counselling and palliative care services where necessary. The secondary focus is the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to congenital disorders and improving the quality of life of affected individuals. Patient-centred care is a core principle of service provision in these guidelines, ensuring that care is accessible, coordinated and integrated, respects patients’ values, preferences and expressed needs, offers emotional support, involves family and friends and offers continuity and transition. Care is further expanded to include the patient’s experience of care including informed decision making, consent and confidentiality. The guidelines are aimed at all healthcare workers involved in the planning, management, delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and research of genetic services. Genetic services cuts across all health programmes, which involves healthcare services provided at primary healthcare facilities and hospitals. This includes healthcare workers in areas such as reproductive and sexual health; maternal and neonatal health; child and school health; adolescent and youth health; mental health; communicable and non-communicable diseases; including all services provided by allied health workers. The guidelines are also aimed at laboratories, academics, researchers, civil society, and communities with an interest in genetic services.
Type
Guides/Guidelines
Topic
Clinical Genetics
Language
English
Publisher
National Department of Health
Year
2021