News

The Truth About TB programme news and articles from our quarterly newsletter for professionals. Why not add your views to the comments section at the foot of each full-article?

If you would like to register for the email version, please email thetruthabouttb@tbalert.org.

TB training for third sector: 2012 dates

16 December 2011

TB Alert is delighted to invite announce the 2012 dates for our FREE TB awareness training for third sector organisations.

Launch of free TB awareness training for third sector organisations

16 September 2011

TB Alert is delighted to invite announce the launch of a free programme of TB awareness training for third sector organisations.

This training will provide interactive sessions on TB the illness, how it affects local communities in each region, and guidance on developing and evaluating TB awareness programmes – which will include guidance on using the free TB awareness resource pack that comes with the training.

The courses run for two days, in locations around the country, on the following dates:

Race Against TB: A call to action

24 February 2011

In the autumn, Race for Health was delighted to publish, alongside TB Alert, an important set of recommendations about ensuring race equality in health around tuberculosis.

The heart of the matter concerned three key points. First, the incidence of tuberculosis in Britain has risen steadily over the last 20 years, alongside the impact experienced disproportionately by black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. This is unacceptable.

The Truth About TB on World TB Day

15 February 2011

On March 24th 1882, Dr Robert Koch identified the bacteria that cause tuberculosis – a crucial step forwards in diagnosing and treating this devastating illness. Yet, over 100 years later, the UK is experiencing a consistent year-on-year rise in cases that has lasted for over two decades.

The patient's perspective: Louise's story

15 February 2011

Despite giving up smoking and taking a course of antibiotics, Louise's chest infection did not clear up. She returned to her GP many times with symptoms including a cough that was not getting better, weight loss, sweats and a general feeling of tiredness—classic symptoms of TB. Yet it took a visit to A&E, after coughing up blood, before Louise was diagnosed with infectious TB. In the meantime, she had passed on TB bacteria to her family and colleagues—including her sister who went on to develop active TB.

News from the seminar: the power of the patient story

14 February 2011

In my roles as a Consultant in Public Health and as the West Midlands Regional Lead for TB in the NHS, I have been involved with developing and supporting commissioning for TB services. I also work in partnership with the Health Protection Agency when TB outbreaks and incidents occur. I personally found The Truth About TB in your community awareness seminar in Birmingham, which was organised by TB Alert, to be very informative and inspiring—it allowed me to reflect and re-focus upon issues related to TB. 

News from the seminar: TB and the Somali community

14 February 2011

I attended TB Alert’s TB awareness seminar in Birmingham. It was an excellent day and I learned a lot about TB in the local community and I met new friends: local TB clinician, Dr Martin Dedicoat and TB Nurse Manager, Viv Braddy. Both were interested to engage with the Somali community in Birmingham and we had our first meeting in January, where we discussed the types and steps of engagement with the local Somali community. My organisation also plans to work with the local TB services in Northampton and help them to engage with the Somali community there.

Race Against TB: Halting TB surge requires centralised commissioning

13 October 2010

Specialised commissioning for tuberculosis services should be introduced to reverse the increase in cases over the past 20 years, according to the Race Against TB report, published today by TB Alert and Race for Health.

Welcome from the Chief Medical Officer (interim)

13 July 2010

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first The Truth About TB newsletter.  The Truth About TB is a national programme of action coordinated by TB Alert, the UK’s national tuberculosis charity, and I believe it can play an important role in reversing over 20 years of rising TB in England.

Race Against TB seminar

13 July 2010

100 leaders from the NHS, local government and the third sector were recently brought together by TB Alert and Race for Health to produce a set of best practice recommendations to tackle the health inequalities that lie at the heart of the rising incidence of TB.