Tuberculosis (TB) Service

Tuberculosis (TB) Nurses are a team of expert nurses that have undergone additional training and development in aspects of TB.

Our aim is to improve patient outcomes by promoting standardised integrated best practice and offer support and leadership in the management, control, treatment and prevention of TB.

The TB Service provides the following:

• Case management and support for patients with active/latent tuberculosis providing Directly Observed Therapy if necessary
• Identification and screening of contacts of TB. Close liaison with HPA and CCDC for large contact tracing exercises e.g. in a school setting, healthcare setting, prison or other institution
• Screening of new entrants to UK from areas of high TB incidence (countries with a rate of TB of more than 40 per 100,000 of population)
• Rapid access for symptomatic patients
• Liaison with prison healthcare service for patients diagnosed/suspected of TB and for expert advice and support
• BCG vaccination for eligible children/adults*
• Health promotion and advisory/training role within community and hospital settings. This will include the wider multi disciplinary team and voluntary organisations

* Please note that Tuberculin skin testing and BCG for occupational and travel purposes are not available through the TB service. These are available to eligible clients at the Well Travelled Clinic, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, however please also note that there will be a charge for this service.

The TB Service covers Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Halton and St Helens, and is a community based service providing care via home visiting, in various community clinic settings across the above areas, and with close liaison with local acute hospitals.

Contact:
Hartington Road Clinic
Liverpool
L8 0SG

Tel: 0151 295 3874

Opening times: Monday to Friday 09.00 - 17.00 (excluding bank holidays)

The TB Service covers Liverpool CCG, South Sefton CCG, Knowsley CCG, Halton CCG, St Helens CCG, and Southport and Formby CCG, and is a community based service providing care via home visiting, in various community clinic settings across the above areas, and with close liaison with local acute hospitals.

Please note that Interpreter Services are available when required.

For latent and active TB referral form:

TB Referral form

For referrals for BCG:

BCG referral form

All referrals to be sent via email to: Tb.specialistnurses@nhs.net

Inclusion Criteria

The service accepts referrals for the following groups for both adults and children

• Patients diagnosed with active TB or Latent TB
• Patients who have symptoms of TB including: a persistent cough lasting more than a few weeks; haemoptysis (coughing up blood); weight loss; night sweats; tiredness and lethargy; fevers and enlarged lymph nodes.
• Contacts of TB – risk assessment regarding infection risk will be carried out 
• New entrants from high risk countries*  (countries with a rate of TB of more than 40 per 100,000 of population) more information can be found here.*see exclusion criteria below
• Children and adults who fit the criteria for BCG** – NICE (CG117) Tuberculosis and Green book (immunisation against infectious diseases). **see exclusion criteria below
• Patients who have had a positive IGRA blood test

Exclusion Criteria

*Foreign students entering the country from high risk countries

**BCG or TB screening for occupational or travel purposes

New entrants from low risk countries (see HPA link above)

Anyone who does not fit the criteria for BCG (See NICE and Green book link above)

If you have any feedback for our services, please feel free to contact us here.