Efforts to reduce TB

In the spirit of the motto of this year’s World TB Day (Unite to end TB), PHE North West is celebrating the strong progress made towards eliminating TB in the region.

One year ago, Public Health England and NHS England jointly launched the 5-year strategy to eliminate TB as a public health problem, and announced an £11.5 million investment as part of a collaborative initiative to decrease TB cases and reduce health inequalities.

Locally, a significant step has been the formation of the North West TB control board which built on the success of a previous North West TB Summit in bringing together PHE North West, local authority public health, the NHS, NHS England, local commissioners and charities to work collaboratively to control TB.

One key work stream in the North West has been the development of a TB Cohort Review which is a patient focussed, multidisciplinary case review process, to improve clinical and public health practice.

The latest data for TB in the North West of England show that there were 646 cases of TB in 2014, a rate of 9.1/100,000 population, down from 11.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2011.

This compares with England where there were 6,520 cases of TB in 2014, a rate of 12.0/100,000 population, down from the peak of 15.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2011.

Melanie Sirotkin, PHE North West Centre Director said: “The theme of World TB Day is ‘Unite to End TB’, so today we celebrate the close collaboration between many groups across the North West to implement the national TB strategy and eliminate TB.

“It’s good to see that the previous work in the North West is being adapted nationally and we are we are putting into practice what we know is working. However, the job is a long way from finished and the collaborative and effective work of the North West TB Board is needed to support further declines in TB in the coming years.”

Chair of the North West TB Board Graham Urwin said: “The North West TB Board is committed to the fight against this serious infection and we are already seeing the results of a joined up and collaborative approach. We need to continue the good work so that TB is consigned to the past.

“This is a fight we must and will win and I am confident that our innovative approach will stop people suffering. Early detection and treatment is key to stopping the spread of TB and we will continue to work closely with our colleagues at PHE North West and in the NHS, local government and the voluntary and community sector to take action to combat this public health problem.”