Manchester NHS Trust advertises new nurse position to support families with cousin marriages amid national debate over child health risks

Earlier this year, a Manchester NHS Trust posted what it called an “exciting new job opportunity.”

It didn’t take long for people to realise this wasn’t a routine nursing role.

The position was designed to support families where close relatives — often cousins — are having children together.

Applications have since closed, but the questions raised by the advert are still rippling across the country.

What the Role Was Actually About

The job, listed as a neonatal nurse post, was offered on a fixed 12-month contract with a salary ranging from just over £37,000 to nearly £45,000 a year.

The successful applicant would work full time, helping families engage with genetic services and make reproductive choices in what the trust described as a “culturally sensitive and empowering” way.

Fluency in Urdu and a clear respect for cultural diversity were highlighted as key requirements.

According to the trust, the aim wasn’t to promote cousin marriage but to support families already living that reality, especially where children might be affected by inherited conditions.

New NHS Guidance Adds Fuel to the Fire

The timing of the advert mattered. Just weeks earlier, new NHS guidance had suggested that fears around congenital disease linked to cousin marriage may be overstated.

The document noted that 85 to 90 per cent of cousin couples do not have children at all, and that the overall national rate for unaffected children sits at around 98 per cent.

While acknowledging that close-relative marriage does carry increased risks to child health, the guidance argued these risks should be weighed against what it described as potential social, emotional and economic benefits in communities where the practice is common.

Why Cousin Marriage Remains a Sensitive Topic

In the UK, cousin marriage is most often associated with communities of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage, although it also occurs among some Traveller groups and other minority communities.

Supporters point to strong family bonds, shared values and economic stability.

Critics argue the health risks to children are too great to ignore.

That tension — between cultural sensitivity and child welfare — sits right at the heart of the NHS debate.

Political Backlash and Sharp Criticism

Not everyone sees the NHS approach as neutral or supportive.

Kellie-Jay Keen, leader of the Party of Women, described cousin marriage as dangerous and said it has no place in British culture.

She argued that the long-term cost to the NHS and social care system is significant and accused politicians of avoiding the issue out of fear of being labelled racist or Islamophobic.

In her view, offering specialist roles like this sends the wrong message and risks normalising a practice she believes harms children.

A Voice From Lived Experience

Aisha Ali-Khan knows the issue isn’t theoretical.

She is the child of first cousins and has spoken publicly about the devastating impact this had on her family.

Four of her seven siblings were born with severe disabilities.

Three of them, including her twin brother, have since died.

She is now a full-time carer for her older sister and lives with a genetic condition herself.

Ali-Khan says the focus should be on better education — both within communities and inside the NHS — rather than presenting cousin marriage in a neutral or positive light.

Education Versus Silence

Ali-Khan argues that many people simply don’t understand the genetic risks involved.

She believes schools should do more to teach basic genetics in biology lessons and that professional medical advice is far safer than relying on informal family guidance.

In her words, talking to a trained practitioner beats listening to “some aunt down the street.”

At the same time, she has criticised NHS material that highlights supposed benefits of cousin marriage, calling it a dangerous stance that downplays very real consequences.

This Isn’t Just a Manchester Story

Manchester is far from alone. Similar roles have appeared over the past 18 months at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Slough, as well as in Bedfordshire Hospitals and GP practices in Bradford.

These posts suggest a broader NHS strategy focused on engagement rather than enforcement, even as public opinion remains deeply divided.

A Look Back at Britain’s Own History

Cousin marriage isn’t new to Britain. It was once common among the upper classes, used to keep wealth, land and influence within families.

Over time, the practice fell out of favour, especially as understanding of genetics improved.

Today, only around one per cent of white British couples are estimated to be first cousins.

The Numbers Are Slowly Shifting

Long-running research in Bradford, home to one of the UK’s largest Pakistani communities, suggests attitudes may be changing.

Earlier studies found that more than 60 per cent of Pakistani-heritage women were in consanguineous relationships.

More recent data shows that figure has dropped to around 46 per cent.

Researchers believe higher levels of education, changing family structures and stricter immigration rules may all be playing a role in the decline.

Where the Debate Goes Next

At its core, the argument over the “cousin marriage nurse” role isn’t really about one job advert. It’s about how a modern

health service balances cultural respect with its duty to protect children. Whether the NHS approach builds trust or fuels further controversy will likely shape policy decisions for years to come — long after this particular vacancy has been filled.