Your Responsibilities
Rights are balanced with the responsibility to respect the rights of others, and to live within the boundaries of the law.
Getting tested for TB
If you are not a citizen of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and are arriving from certain countries and want to stay in the United Kingdom for more than six months, you will normally be asked to undertake a medical inspection to test for TB.
Testing for TB is for the benefit of your health and your friends, family and community. If you are found to be ill with TB do not worry, you will receive treatment for the duration of your stay in the UK, including if you have arrived in the UK to apply for asylum and your application has not been successful.
Port of entry screening
If you are arriving from a country where TB is common this inspection will involve a chest x-ray to check for TB damage to the lungs and is sometimes referred to as ‘port of entry screening’.
Pre-entry screening
In some instances, such as when applying for specific visas, it may be necessary to be tested for TB before you depart for the United Kingdom (UK). This is called ‘pre-entry screening’ and you may be given a 'United Kingdom pre-departure tuberculosis detection certificate', which you should give to an official when you arrive.
When living in the UK
Health authorities will usually contact newly arrived people to encourage them to register with a GP, and will often invite them to be tested for TB, if they were not tested when they first arrived.
Taking your medication
Most people with TB have the same freedoms as everyone else. However, not taking your medication can have serious consequences, for you and other people.
Your TB nurse will help you overcome difficulties you may have during treatment. It is important to tell your nurse or key worker about any issues you have with side effects or remembering to take your tablets, so they can help. Some people might find it easier to have Directly Observed Treatment (DOT).
When someone who has infectious TB does not take their medication (known as non-compliance) they could be detained in hospital under Sections 37 and 38 of the Public Health (Control of Infections) Act 1984. This is because infectious TB is a public health concern, which means the government can limit a person’s freedoms if their illness could affect the health of other people.