Government hails success of Tuberculosis Strategy for England

Significant progress has been made with the implementation of the Tuberculosis Strategy for England in the last year, according to the government.

A report from Public Health England has shown that the five-year strategy, launched last year, is helping to unite care providers nationwide in developing a more comprehensive approach to tackling the spread of the disease.

Seven regional tuberculosis control boards across England – bringing together Public Health England, local authority public health bodies, the NHS, NHS England, local commissioners and charities – have been established since the strategy's launch.

Meanwhile, a fully-funded national testing and treatment programme for latent infections has been introduced, with all 59 of the high-burden areas in England having now signed up to this scheme.

As such, a further ten million pounds is to be provided to fund ongoing testing and treatment programmes for latent infections in new entrants to the country in the next year.

Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, head of tuberculosis at Public Health England, said: "We cannot afford to rest on our laurels while tuberculosis rates in England still remain among the highest in Western Europe, but the implementation of our Tuberculosis Strategy shows us the way forward for the next five years."