Procurement of Direct‑to‑Patient Genetic Testing Service for the NHS Jewish BRCA Programme

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.