Consultant Genetic Counsellor 

Genetic Counselling combines Charlotte Tomlinson's fascination with genetics and the passion she has for empowering individuals, couples and families to make informed healthcare decisions around the genetic conditions affecting them. She was delighted whilst undertaking her undergraduate training in Human Genetics through the University of Nottingham to learn about the profession of Genetic Counselling and went on to achieve a distinction in her MSc in Genetic Counselling. Charlotte established her NHS genetic counselling career with this knowledge base which she has been doing for 12 years and has in the last couple of years started private practice.

Charlotte Tomlinson is a Consultant Genetic Counsellor at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and jointly leads the general genetics & prenatal service including the Preimplantation Genetic Testing service. Charlotte's role has involved developing the first Klinefelter’s MDT clinic with a focus on fertility in the UK which has national and international interest. 

Charlotte Tomlinson is a member of the Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (GCRB) and Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS); she is currently deputy chair of the GCRB. Charlotte is on the BSGM Fetal Genomics Steering Group and is a member of the Royal College of Gynaecologist & Obstetric Genomics Taskforce. She is currently a member of the NHSE working group to review commissioning around PGT.

As a Consultant Genetic Counsellor Charlotte Tomlinson can assess the risk based on family history and help patients to understand their risk. She will support patients to decide if testing is right for them. She can interpret complex results, which she will translate in a way that is tailored to each patient so there is shared understanding resulting in patients being empowered to make informed healthcare decisions. Charlotte uses techniques from counselling to help patients adjust to having a genetic condition, providing support at a time that can be stressful and highly emotional and to help them make difficult decisions associated with this. It can take time to adjust to new diagnoses and to decide on the best possible course of action.

Charlotte Tomlinson can also provide support in thinking about when and how to disclose information to family.