Overview
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advertised a two-year pilot for a “Close Relative Marriage Nurse/Midwife” in neonatal care to support families where parents are close relatives.
- The role is described as one of very few in the UK, with duties to initiate sensitive conversations, expand access to genetic testing, and help parents make informed decisions.
- The posting specified support for families including cousins, uncles, aunts and other close relations, with a listed salary of £37,338 to £44,962.
- The advert has since closed and the position remains vacant, with the Daily Mail reporting it is part of a national programme funded by NHS England.
- The move has drawn criticism from Conservative MP Richard Holden, who renewed calls to ban first-cousin marriage, while government guidance has stated there are no plans to prohibit such unions; local research found higher rates of cousin marriage in parts of Bradford and elevated risks of recessive disorders.