Tuberculosis (TB) service

About the service

Tuberculosis (TB) is a mycobacterial disease which can affect a few different organisations in the body. Both Barnsley and Wakefield community TB service is a nurse led service which provides high quality care and support to people and their families suffering from TB.

The service works closely with secondary care to deliver a streamless service and aim to limit the spread of TB within the local community and reduce transmission of infection by screening, diagnosing, and treating people promptly.

The Barnsley and Wakefield TB service provides regular public awareness in different venues, educating people about this preventable disease and enabling the public to recognise the symptoms of TB, breaking the stigma that TB has within the community.

The service runs weekly clinic for TB screening with monthly mantoux skin screening for children under 17yrs.

• Carry out a full risk assessment of all TB cases and identify enhanced care management
• Support TB patients, ensure any close contacts are screened to prevent onward transmission
• To detect both active and latent TB within the community and refer promptly to secondary care
• Management of TB incidents and outbreaks in line with Public Health
• Deliver the national BCG programme for eligible children who have not had the vaccination at birth

Carrying out new entrant screening clinics for people arriving at the UK from countries with a high prevalence of TB. Screening, diagnosing and treating people is key to eradicating TB in the future.

Why would someone choose the service?

• Friendly and knowledgeable staff
• We provide advice and information in relation to the signs and symptoms of active TB disease
• We provide advice and information on the process of contact tracing
• We provide advice and information for BCG vaccination missed at birth

Staff you may meet

Non-clinical support staff

There are many people who work behind the scenes to keep services running and you may meet them in hospital or community settings. They include porters, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, decorators receptionists and secretaries who all work to make sure healthcare settings are kept clean, tidy and safe.

Nurse

Registered nurses use evidence based knowledge, and their professional and clinical judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate high quality person centred care. The work of registered nurses consists of many specialised and complex interventions to ensure people and their families can improve, maintain or recover health, or experience a dignified death.

Receptionist

Receptionists are the first link for many patients and visitors. They often work on their own or with one or two other receptionists, greeting patients as they arrive and check them in. They might also collect patient notes and ensure that these vital records go to the right healthcare professional. In a clinic, they may make appointments and arrange patient transport.