FREE online TB training for primary care nurses
Primary care nurses are invited by the national tuberculosis charity TB Alert to take free, CPDaccredited online training on TB in general practice. TB Alert has developed the course in
partnership with Public Health England and the Royal College of GPs.
The training consists of two 30-minute e-learning modules to help nurses identify the signs and
symptoms of all forms of TB, refer patients to specialist services and support them through
their treatment.
TB in England
Over recent years rates of TB in England have been at their highest since the 1980s, with
8,130 cases in 2012. This gives England the dubious distinction of having the second highest
TB rate in Western Europe.
TB predominantly occurs among groups which experience health inequalities, such as settled
migrants from countries with high TB incidence, and those with chaotic lives such as the
homeless, people with a history of imprisonment or those with problem alcohol or drug use.
The disease is largely concentrated in a small number of high incidence areas (mainly urban),
although highly complex multi-drug resistant cases can occur anywhere in the country. Despite
some areas having notable success in tackling TB, overall rates are not reducing.
Early diagnosis and treatment completion are key
Early diagnosis and treatment of TB is essential, to reduce the risk of long-term damage to a
person’s health and to limit onward transmission. Yet too many people are still diagnosed in
A&E departments, often with advanced TB. A higher level of referrals from primary care will be
an indicator of more effective TB control.
Patients require close support throughout the often difficult treatment for TB, which takes at
least six months. If treatment is incomplete, drug-resistant forms can develop, and in England
rates of drug-resistant TB have increased from 48 cases in 2003 to 78 cases in 2012.
Treatment of these forms of TB is more toxic, significantly more expensive, takes much longer
and can be less effective.
TB Alert has developed this course with advice from GPs and primary care nurses to contribute
to reducing incidence of TB in England.
Course contents include:
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risks, signs and symptoms of TB
local TB statistics
screening questions and tests
treatment support
contact tracing.
Access the course here: www.elearning.rcgp.org.uk/tb (you need to provide an email address
and password to access the course portal).