Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) has major health and social impacts for those affected. In 2015, in response to the high rates of TB in England, Public Health England and NHS England launched the ‘Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for England, 2015-2020’. [i] The Strategy aimed to achieve an annual reduction in TB incidence, a reduction in health inequalities associated with TB and work towards eliminating TB as a public health problem.
In England, the incidence of TB has fallen significantly since 2011 with most new cases resulting from infection acquired outside the UK and approximately 25% of cases from transmission in England [ii].
Improving treatment and care services is also a key ambition; increasing the proportion of drug sensitive TB cases completing treatment within twelve months is a key indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework, while increasing the proportion of TB cases offered an HIV test is a key indicator in Public Health England's Sexual and Reproductive Health profiles.
[i] Collaborative tuberculosis strategy for England 2015 to 2020
[ii] Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England, 2021 to 2026
Key findings
TB incidence, 2019-21
- In Lancashire-12 (5.5) TB incidence, per 100,000 of the population, is better than the England rate (7.8).
- Between 2019-2021 there were 204 TB notifications in the Lancashire-12 area.
- Within the Lancashire-12 area, in Pendle (17.4) and Preston (16.2) TB incidence rate is significantly higher than the England rate.
- In Blackburn with Darwen (21.6) TB incidence is worse than the England rate and in Blackpool (2.2) it is better than the England rate.
TB treatment completion, 2020
- In Lancashire-12 (86.4%) the proportion of drug-sensitive TB cases who had completed a full course of treatment by 12 months is similar to the England rate (84.2%).
- Based on recent trend, in Lancashire-12 the TB treatment completion rate has not changed significantly.
Proportion of TB cases offered an HIV test, 2020
- In Lancashire-12 (100%) the proportion of TB cases offered an HIV test is similar to the England rate (97.8%).
For county and unitary data and further information please see below.