§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analysing has been carried out of the transfer of public health laboratories to host NHS trusts. [82141]
§ Ms BlearsThe benefits of transferring laboratories of the Public Health Laboratory Service to national health service trusts include
218Wit is essential to create a comprehensive, coherent surveillance system, as described in the Chief Medical Officer's strategy. "Getting Ahead of the Curve";it will broaden the number of clinical staff required to report the occurrence of infectious diseases;it will place a duty of care on all microbiology laboratories to report for public health surveillance purposes; andgenerally, the transfers will bring public health activities within the mainstream of the NHS.The transfers are being implemented at no overall cost.