Experience of the Establishment of a Dedicated FH Service in the Yorkshire & Humber region

Abstract

In 2017 a dedicated genetic service was established to screen for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the Yorkshire & Humber population to find adults with FH and therefore at increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. The Commissioning Groups entered into an agreement with the Lead CCG to commission a dedicated service across four hospital hubs (Hull, York, Leeds & Huddersfield) for 3 years; four WTE nurses funded by the British Foundation for 2 years provided genetic counselling with the full service costs covered by the CCG’s in year 3. Aims were to identify patients with a proven FH genetic variant (Index), rapidly identify/test family members (Cascades) of positive index cases at a reduced cost and identify barriers to identification and testing of high risk patients.