Question reference: S6W-08164
- Asked by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 April 2022 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 May 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-03513 by Humza Yousaf on 8 November 2021, what development plans it has for Scotland’s genetic laboratories and frontline genetics services, and what investment it will make in the current financial year to support the delivery of any plans.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed £6.2 million to genomics for the financial year 2022-23. This is in addition to the funding allocated to the 4 genetic laboratories in Scotland by NHS Boards through NHS National Services Division (NSD) commissioning arrangements.
The Scottish Government fully recognises the role of genomics in improving patient outcomes. We have provided funding to NSD to establish a Transformation Team led by a Lead Clinical Scientist alongside resource that specialises in transformative programme management and Data Analytics. The Team will be operational from June 2022.
This team will be responsible for delivering the rapid adoption of a number of genetic tests for cancer across the genetic laboratories as well as developing an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations from the Genetic Laboratory Major Service Review.
The transformation team will work within NSD and support the Scottish Government to develop our long term plans for genomics medicine in Scotland.