This accessibility statement applies to the NHS website for North Bristol NHS Trust, www.nbt.nhs.uk. 

This website is run by North Bristol NHS Trust. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings.
• Zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen.
• Navigate most of the website using a keyboard or speech recognition software.
• Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver).

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• You cannot modify the line height or spacing of text.
• Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
• Live video streams and videos do not have captions.
• You cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader.
• There’s a limit to how far you can magnify the map on our ‘Our Hospitals’ pages.

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: NBTCommunications@nbt.nhs.uk.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• Email NBTCommunications@nbt.nhs.uk.
• Call 0117 414 3990.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 10 days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘Our Hospitals’ pages, call or email us for directions.

Please email NBTCommunications@nbt.nhs.uk. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in ten days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

North Bristol NHS Trust is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

The website has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

1.1    Text Alternatives

1.1.1 Non-text Content
Cause of error: Alternative (alt) text on non-decorative images describe the image and say it is a link, how to action the link, but not what the link is. 
Action to remediate: Correct alt text to describe the link the image is linked to as well as the image. For example, image of heart in hands is link to further support page, opens in same window.

1.3 Adaptable

1.3.1 Info and Relationships
Cause of error: Bullet headings are not announced and mentioned in the voice over. 
Action to remediate: Format bullet headings using integrated heading styles in CMS.

1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence
Cause of error: Content skips to links, missing main text and drop-down headings.

1.4 Distinguishable

1.4.1 Use of Colour
Cause of error: Where colour is used to distinguish text (telephone numbers and links) there is no additional text explanation included in the main wording or description. 
Action to remediate: Ensure the presence of telephone numbers, email addresses, links etc is included in the text description. For example, the telephone number for the helpline is…

2.4 Navigable

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
Cause of error: no obvious way to bypass blocks of regular content e.g. page footer.

2.4.3 Focus Order
Cause of error: Cannot access the drop-down headings using the tab key alone. Must use a pointer (digit or mouse). 
Action to remediate: Include a section header and introduction for pages with drop-down (FAQ format) content describing the content as drop-down. For example, the following information provides answers to frequently asked questions. Use the cross to drop down each section for more information.

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
Cause of error: not all links on page provide context, explanation or hover text e.g. Our Hospitals. 
Action to remediate: Add hover text, supporting text and alt text so this can be picked up through screen readers. For example, Home Help - visit the home help pages of our website for more information on how this service works. Hyperlink - opens in same window.

3.2 Predictable

3.2.1 On Focus
Cause of error: Not all links describe what is going to happen. Heading for online letters opens new page in same window. 
Action to remediate: Hyperlinks should describe that it will open in the same window telling the user they will have to navigate between pages to continue reading.

3.2.6 Consistent Help
Cause of error: the helpline (telephone number) listed is not interactive or describes as a telephone number. It is also difficult to find. 
Action to remediate: The content should announce that it includes a telephone number. For examples, call our telephone number for more information on … and the number should be consistently formatted throughout the website to be an interactive hyperlink.

We’re working with our suppliers to resolve these issues as soon as possible. We will make another assessment when the supplier contract is up for renewal, likely to be in May 2026. 

We plan to resolve these by the end of 2026

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. 

All new PDFs and Word documents we publish will comply with the built-in accessibility standards of Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Word.

Live video 

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 24 August 2020. It was last reviewed on 24 July 2023, 4 August 2023 and 2 June 2025.

This website was last tested in May 2025 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

The test was carried out by North Bristol NHS Trust’s Communications Team. 

The most viewed pages were tested against the DWP’s WCAG manual checks testing template using automated testing tools.

Genomic vocabulary is vast and forever adapting and changing to keep up with advancements in the field.   

• In order to keep  your Genomic literacy and understanding up to date SWGLH recommend the Health Education England Genomics Education Programme Genomics' Glossary
• To make further suggestions for the list contact the Genomics Education Programme Team

Joel's Story

Joel Calvert, 32, signed up to the 100,000 genomes programme through the West of England Genomic Medicine Centre (WEGMC) in 2017 after it was suggested to him by his clinician at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol). As a result of his participation in this pioneering programme, Joel was given answers about his condition that, until then, doctors and medical professionals had been unable to provide.

The results from his genetic testing showed that he had Meester-Loeys syndrome, a rare hereditary disorder which affects the connective tissue in those affected. Connective tissue provides strength and flexibility to structures such as bones, ligaments, muscles, and blood vessels and, as such, people with Meester-Loeys syndrome can often have a range of skeletal problems especially with bone structure. Joints can be rigid, with mild deformities in the digits and long bones and in the hip joint. However, the most serious problem can be an abnormal aorta which is at higher risk of enlargement and rupture.  This, however, does not appear in all patients but when it occurs it requires immediate lifesaving intervention. There are also several other genetic conditions which can affect the aorta in this way, some of which also have similar impact to joints and the skeleton.

Speaking about his condition and his experience, Joel said:“I’ve had this condition since I was born but due to the varied symptoms and the rarity of the condition, I wasn’t able to get a diagnosis until I took part in this project. The symptoms I showed varied across time; I was born with bilateral club feet and was consistently in plaster until I was a teenager. I also had contracture in ligaments in some of my fingers, mild scoliosis of the spine, and from around six years ago, chronic back pain.“I have seen a number of GPs and specialists over the years to try and treat the symptoms, and get a diagnosis. Unfortunately though, this was unsuccessful. “This was incredibly disheartening and, at times, frustrating. We tried a number of different treatments but without a named condition, it was harder to explain what was going on, and a lot of time was spent with the process of elimination. At a couple of points, I became so frustrated that I just stopped going to the GP as I felt that there wasn’t anything that could be done.

“After I agreed to take part in the 100,000 genomes programme, they took blood samples from myself and from members of my family and, earlier this year, I was contacted by Dr Karen Low at UH Bristol who confirmed I had Meester-Loeys Syndrome. Being able to finally get a diagnosis for the underlying condition is significant both in terms of how I manage the condition, but also for me personally. “Knowing what this condition is allows my doctors and me to have a more focused approach, and means we can try and manage my symptoms with a better understanding of the underlying cause. It also means I can have more of an idea about what to expect as I get older and there are steps that we can take now to address these issues earlier. Also, as it is hereditary, I can know what to expect if I have children, and will be able to discuss this with doctors and specialists in the future.

“It is also very liberating for me personally. When there was no diagnosis and no named cause of my symptoms, there were times when I doubted myself and the severity of my condition, and questioned whether I was wasting the time of my doctors. This is not a nice position to be in, but now that I know there is an underlying cause, it has provided peace of mind and reassurance that my concerns were valid.  

“Taking part in the 100,000 genomes programme has been massively significant for me. If it wasn’t for the wider work taking place as part of this initiative, I still wouldn’t have that clarity about my own condition. Beyond myself though, there are other people out there with this condition. Hopefully this programme may help lead to faster diagnosis people with Meester-Loeys syndrome and other similar conditions in the future.”

Libby's Story

A mother whose daughter died from cancer after treatment at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath has spoken about the value of joining the 100,000 Genomes Project for research and for helping her to come to terms with her grief.

Diane Woodland’s daughter Libby volunteered for the project after she was admitted to the RUH and diagnosed with a rare cancer. She died aged 25 in August 2018.

Diane said: “The doctors told us they’d never seen a cancer before like the one Libby had and they didn’t know what treatment to give her. “My deepest fear was that, having produced Libby and her brother George, it was something my husband and I had passed on to her.”

Tracie Miles, RUH gynaecology clinical nurse specialist for gynaecology cancer and legacy genomics practitioner, recruited Libby to the 100,000 Genomes Project through the West of England Genomic Medicine Centre (WEGMC) while she was being treated at the hospital. The national project was a major NHS initiative to sequence 100,000 genomes from patients with rare inherited diseases or with cancer and to transform NHS services to include genome sequencing as standard care for future patients. The ambitious aim to sequence 100,000 genomes (DNA sequences) from NHS patients was reached in December 2018.

Tracie said: “Libby wanted to know about her cancer. Her biggest fears were for her family and their future – she wanted more information for herself and for them. In addition she wanted to help patients in the future with information from her stored genomic data. The results that came back showed there was no inherited reason for her succumbing to this cancer. This was a real relief for her mum and her dad.”

Diane said: “It was just amazing to find out that George is very unlikely to have it, I can’t express how much that means.“Signing up for the trial means that, hopefully, things will be discovered that go on to help other people, which is what Libby so wanted to do from such an early age. It might take five or 15 years but I just hope that the information that’s needed is supplied – and I’m so proud and lucky that my daughter has been able to take part in this research.”

Tracie added said: “Genomics has the ability to influence the care we give today. For example a woman newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer will have her tumour tested to see if she carries an alteration of her BRCA 1 or 2 gene.  If that’s the case it may mean that her oncologist, the doctor who prescribes her chemotherapy, could have other therapeutic choices for her, and it may increase her survival advantage. It will also give important health information for her family, who may choose to be tested to see if they carry the altered gene, enabling them to access relevant screening and other cancer risk reducing strategies. So, the learning is already making a difference now for patients, not just in the future.”

The current focus for the local WEGMC teams is on returning results to patients and their families, where appropriate, and also sharing the important impact that this project, and genomic medicine in general, will have on future patients locally, nationally and potentially across the world.

Diane kindly agreed to share her story and that of her daughter Libby through a video which can be viewed here. 

The WE GMC team wanted to express our upmost thanks to Diane for taking the time and the courage to share this extremely personal experience and sharing her view of the importance of being involved in projects such as the 100,000 Genomes Project.
 

NHS England began a major reorganisation of the genetic laboratory network in England in 2018 with the aim of improving genomic testing in the NHS through standardisation, increasing capacity, acceleration of uptake of new technologies and by improving equity of patient access.

• All English Genomic laboratory services are now consolidated into a network of seven Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLH) each hosted by an acute NHS Trust.

• The GLHs provide core rare disease and cancer genomic testing services for NHS patients in their geographical region. GLHs also provide specialist rare disease and cancer genomic testing for more than one region according to their areas of expertise.

This page was last updated 20:19 Tuesday 8th March 2022

2026 date to be confirmed

This virtual Certification in Urodynamics Course is to be run in collaboration with The Prometheus Group LATAM and the Bristol Urological Institute (BUI). It is an online course specifically for specialists in North and South America.

The course will be taught in both English and Spanish and aimed at doctors, nurses, clinical scientists and all allied-healthcare professionals who are already have some knowledge of urodynamics and not for those with no experience. The course finishes with a multiple choice quiz. Those who achieve satisfactory marks will be awarded the Certificate in Urodynamics. Those who do not pass are awarded a Certificate of Attendance. 

Course Director: Hashim Hashim, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Honorary Professor of Urology & Director of the Urodynamics Unit, Bristol Urological Institute

Faculty: 
Arturo Garcia, Consultant Urological Surgeon. Mexico
Andrew Gammie, Clinical Scientist, Bristol Urological Institute

Cost: US$850

To register your interest send an email directly to The Prometheus Group: dilucca.tpglatam@gmail.com

Workforce Development Partner Organisations

The delivery of the genomic medicine service workforce development strategy and it's compenent education and training plan is reliant on the collaboration of many individuals and teams across a network of organisations. 

The SWGLH team collaborates with:

NHSE/I Genomics Unit
HEE Genomics Education Programme
HEE SW Office Genomics lead
AHSNs - SWAHSN and WEAHSN
HEI’s - Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol, Bath, UWE and Gloucestershire
WFDL in acute trusts
CCG leads for Primary Care

Representatives from some of these organisations are members of the SWGMS partnership board 

The SWGLH works with the Genomics Unit in NHS England, and as of February 2021 the SWGLH is aligned with the activity of the South West Genomics Medicine Service Alliance (SWGMSA), to ensure that genomic laboratory services are aligned with national policy and with the needs of the SW population.

Our main NHS Acute hospital partners are the 9 Trusts that provide acute care for the SW England population of about 5 million people:

• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
• Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
• Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust in partnership with Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• North Bristol NHS Trust
• Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
• Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Oversight and governance of the SWGLH and the SWGMSA  are currently provided by a Partnership Board which meets regularly and is accountable to an oversight board consisting of the CEOs of the acute Trusts in the NHS and onward to NHS England and the Genomic Unit.

This page was last updated at 18:16 on Tuesday 8th March 2022

The SWGLH is the point-of-access for all genomic tests listed in the National Genomic Test Directory for rare diseases and for cancer

Funding of tests

The SWGLH is directly funded for service delivery so there will be no provider-to-provider invoicing for tests specified by the national Genomic Test Directory (NGTD), and patients meeting the eligibility criteria.

The following tests will be performed in one of the SWGLH laboratories:

• All cancer and haemato-oncology indications - Bristol
• All common rare disease indications -  Bristol or Exeter
• Specialist tests for neurology, cardiac and renal indications - Bristol
• Specialist tests for endocrine indications  - Exeter
• National rapid exome sequencing service (R14) -  Exeter

Samples for the following test indications should be sent to the SWGLH but will be processed and forwarded to a different specialist laboratory in the GLH network. Results will be sent directly to the requesting clinical team:

• Specialist haematology
• Specialist ophthalmology
• Specialist gastrohepatology
• Specialist hearing
• Specialist immunology
• Specialist inherited cancer
• Specialist metabolic
• Specialist mitochondrial
• Specialist musculoskeletal
• Specialist respiratory
• Specialist skin
• Non-invasive pre-natal diagnosis

The information on requesting these tests can be found on the SWGLH Sample and Test Information pages

This page was last updated 20:11 Tuesday 8th March 2022