New centre for genetics opening

Laboratories at the centre test genes and chromosomes

A centre which aims to give people advance warning of illnesses they are likely to inherit officially opens in Liverpool later.

The Cheshire and Merseyside Clinical Genetics Department is housed in a new building at Alder Hey hospital.

The centre has laboratories which test genes and chromosomes, and a department which gives advice and counselling to patients and their families.

It is based at Alder Hey, as a third of its patients are children.

The department was originally based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital but moved to the Royal Liverpool Children's hospital in the mid-1990s.

The laboratories include the Regional Cytogenetics Service and the Regional Molecular Genetics Service, which have both been based at the Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 1996.

The centre is being overseen by Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust.