§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funding and resources he has allocated this year to local primary care trusts which have reported high rates of TB. [78187]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 29 October 2002]: An extra £400,000 will be made available this year to target primary care trusts with higher than average tuberculosis levels.
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§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has offered to local primary care trusts who have high rates of TB to help them combat this disease. [78186]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 29 October 2002]: Plans for a national strategic action plan for tuberculosis (TB) have been under discussion this year, and have moved forward more quickly under the auspices of the Chief Medical Officer's strategy "Getting ahead of the Curve" which identified TB as one of the key areas for public health improvement. We have held two national conferences with health care professionals, comments from which will help refine and finalise the TB action plan by the end of this year. This plan will form the framework to be tailored to meet local levels of TB.