Genetic advice and support for you and your family
As part of our nurse helpline, we offer a specialist genetic advice service. If you contact us about genetics, we'll arrange a call-back at a dedicated time to go through your questions.
Many people feel unsure about what a cardiomyopathy diagnosis means for their family, both now and in the future. Our genetic advice and support can help you make informed choices that feel right for you and your family.
Understanding your family history
For many people, the first step is working out whether cardiomyopathy could run in the family. Our nurses can:
- talk through your family history information
- help you complete a family history questionnaire and feel confident that you're giving accurate, useful information.
Referrals and next steps
If family screening or a specialist assessment is advised, our nurses can:
- provide a supporting letter by email for you to give to your GP
- help you prepare to talk to your GP, including what to ask
- explain national guidance on when a referral to an inherited cardiac conditions service might be appropriate.
Thinking about genetic testing
Genetic testing can feel like a big step. Our nurses can explain:
- how genetic testing works and what happens during the process
- what genetic testing can and can't tell you
- how long results normally take
- what different types of results can mean.
They can also talk you through the practical and emotional sides of testing, including what it might mean for children, siblings or wider family members, and how to have conversations with your family about inherited risk.
If you've already been referred for genetic testing, our nurses can help you think through how to share information with your family and what your next steps could be.
Our nurse team cannot interpret clinical genetic results, genetic variant reports or direct-to-consumer genetic testing results. They can explain common terms and signpost you to the right specialist services.
