Threats to TB service

Published: 11 February 2010

• WITH rates of TB infection already at alarming levels nationwide and half of all new UK infections in the capital (London has more cases than any other capital city in the “developed world”) why is funding for the London TB mobile X-ray unit (MXU), the only one in the country, in jeopardy once again?

London primary care trusts, London NHS and the Department of Health are declining to fund it and the unit (seven people) is only funded until the end of 2010.

Yet ministers accepted a recommendation that the current truck be replaced at the end of its life, about March 2012, and at least another one be built with a plea for a total of four. 

This unit is proven to have saved the NHS tens of thousands pounds per patient (one person per week, on average, with confirmed TB that was first picked up on the MXU) and unknown thousands by limiting the spread of this deadly and debilitating, but curable, disease. 
George Curley
York Way, N7