Written question asked by Doug Naysmith (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 March 2010. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Thursday, 25 March 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Tuberculosis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage health services in areas with a high number of tuberculosis cases to co-ordinate their work with other public services used by those at a high risk of contracting that disease.

Answer: In June 2007, the Department published a toolkit in to help the national health service to implement the key points of the Chief Medical Officer's Action 'Plan Stopping Tuberculosis in England' (October 2004) through effective commissioning and delivery of services. A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library. This recommended a comprehensive approach to commissioning to include a wide range of stakeholders including community services used by those at high risk (and those being treated for Tuberculosis) and through development of locally targeted health promotion and awareness raising.TB Alert are funded by the Department to help local primary care trusts develop targeted awareness raising, much of this to be delivered through partnerships with other local services working with risk groups.

Secondary information