Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to new figures, published today by Public Health England, showing a 44 per cent decline in the number of people in England with tuberculosis between 2011-2018.
“These latest figures demonstrate what’s possible when councils and their communities work together with the NHS and others to improve the public’s health.
“Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable disease which disproportionately affects those who are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society.
“Local authority staff are on the frontline in controlling TB – whether this is identifying symptoms, advising health and social care professionals, appropriate infection control, responding to TB incidents and outbreaks in settings such as schools, and ensuring that they themselves are also protected and screened if needed.
“We need to continue to remain vigilant in ensuring that best practice in prevention, control and treatment is delivered to all communities across the country. However, this can only be achieved if the £700 million of public health funding cuts over the last five years are reversed in the upcoming Spending Review.”
Notes to editors
- Councils in England face an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign calls on the new Prime Minister to ensure the forthcoming Spending Review secures the future of vital local services and the long-term financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information.
- The latest annual Tuberculosis in England report will be published on Thursday 1 August 2019 here.