Collaborative strategy to eradicate TB in England
"Our goal is to eliminate TB as a public health problem."
NHS England and Public Health England (PHE) are to invest £11.5 million as part of a joint initiative to reduce TB cases and ultimately eliminate TB as a public health problem in the country.
There were over 7,000 TB cases reported in England during 2013 - a staggering 13.5 cases per 100,000 of the population. The UK has the second highest rate of TB among Western European countries, and rates are almost five times higher than in the US.
Public Health minister Jane Ellison, said: "This strategy is a significant step forward in helping us to control and reduce cases of TB, which still affects thousands of people in England every year.
"It will target those most vulnerable to TB by improving access to screening, diagnostic and treatment services as well as innovative outreach programmes such as the ‘Find & Treat’ mobile health units. Last year I saw the first of these fantastic units at work and am delighted that the team launched their second mobile health unit earlier today."
The TB strategy was developed following a three month consultation which included responses from over 100 different stakeholders. The 10-point action plan will include improving access and early diagnosis, better treatment, diagnostic and care services, tackling TB in under-served groups and improved screening and treatment of new migrants for latent TB infection.
Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s medical director, said: "This is an important strategy which is why NHS England is committing £10 million towards tackling the high rates of TB incidence in England. This money will focus on TB screening and any subsequent treatment. Our goal is to eliminate TB as a public health problem."
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