Background: Patients from ethnic minorities are under-represented in referrals to cancer genetics services. In a regional genetics centre that serves two London boroughs, the existing service attracts 3% of its referrals from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and other ethnic groups, despite the fact that these groups make up 34% of the population.
Objectives: To improve access to familial cancer risk assessment in a socially and ethnically diverse population.
Setting: The London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.
Design: Community-based, nurse-led clinics were established for people who were concerned about their familial cancer risk. Patients were asked to triage themselves by answering three questions. Self-referral was encouraged.
Main outcome measures: Data were gathered on ethnicity of clients, cancer risk, source of referral and patient and health professional satisfaction with the service.
Results: Of the 415 people who have accessed the service, 46% were from not White British groups and 67% referred themselves to the service, demonstrating the success of this model in reaching 'hard to reach' groups. Thirty-seven percent of patients were assessed as being at population risk and 63% were assessed as being at moderate risk or higher, showing that the clinics were meeting an unmet need in the community.