NHS England (NHSE) is procuring a contract with a single lead provider to deliver a direct‑to‑patient (DTP) pathway for genetic testing programmes for high‑risk cohorts, including the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme. This procurement represents a scale‑up of the existing programme.
To date, the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme has been delivered through the BRCA‑DIRECT pathway led by the Institute of Cancer Research. BRCA‑DIRECT is an example of a DTP model.
Direct‑to‑patient pathways offer a new approach to delivering genetic testing without requiring individuals to attend in‑person appointments. Key features of the DTP model include:
– All patient information provided in written format, allowing individuals to review it at a time that suits them
– No face‑to‑face appointment required prior to testing
– Patient consent captured by post or online
– At‑home genetic testing using postal saliva kits
– Access to a Genetic Counsellor hotline
Full details of the service requirements and specification are included within the ITT pack.