§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tuberculosis cases there are among the prison population; what measures are being taken to(a) identify and (b) isolate TB cases early; and what other measures are being taken to prevent transmission between inmates. [132550]
§ Paul GogginsThe Prison Service does not routinely collect information from establishments about the number of cases of tuberculosis among prisoners in 723W England and Wales. It has, however, contracted the Health Protection Agency to provide a communicable disease data collection and monitoring service. As part of this contract, the London prisons will shortly begin to pilot use of a new reporting form, which will provide information on newly diagnosed cases of tuberculosis and also on people already being treated for tuberculosis when received into prison.
The Health Protection Agency also issues a Quarterly Report on Infectious Diseases in Prisons. The two most recent editions have included detailed guidance about the control of tuberculosis in prisons designed to clarify and reinforce earlier guidance to establishments. This makes it clear that all prisoners should be screened for tuberculosis on first reception by direct questioning about the particular symptoms of the disease. Where any case of tuberculosis is suspected, immediate efforts should be made to confirm the diagnosis or to make an urgent referral to the local NHS chest physician. Any prisoners with symptoms of the disease should be isolated until a diagnosis is made. The recent guidance 724W also includes advice on notification under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and associated contact tracing.