Tuberculosis Nursing Service

We are a community-based specialist nursing team working to improve the lives of people with TB.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information about our service

This service is running as normal at the moment. Please see the details below.

Keep up-to-date with the latest information, read our page on Coronavirus.

Contact us

For all BCG referrals and enquiries:

SCS referral point
0300 123 3167
kentchft.scs.referralpoint@nhs.net

For any advice regarding TB; signs, symptoms, active TB, latent TB, infectivity, contact screening  or any other query please contact the relevant team:

East Kent
0300 1231430
kcht.tbteam@nhs.ne

North Kent
0300 123 1147
kcht.tbservicewest@nhs.net

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, excluding bank holidays

Who we are

We are a team of nurses and admin staff who specialise in Tuberculosis care and the BCG vaccination. We work with adults, young people and children including babies. All our nurses are trained to in Mantoux skin testing and BCG vaccinations.

What we do

The service has a dual role in looking after patients with active TB and delivering the neonatal BCG vaccination programme. We supports patients with active TB by helping them through their treatment, giving advice and reassurance about symptoms and any side effects from their treatment. We also have an important role in preventing the onwards transmission of infectious TB through supporting early diagnosis, contact screening and education. We work very closely with many other agencies, including Respiratory consultants and Microbiolgists, Public Health England and voluntary organisations to ensure the best outcome for patients. We also run BCG clinics throughout East and North Kent to deliver the BCG vaccination for any baby who meets the Department of Health Criteria born at EKHUFT or DVH. Our service is flexible and responsive, delivering clinics in numerous locations across our areas, both in community health centres and the hospitals, ensuring that appointments are close to where patients  live and close to necessary diagnostic testing.  Our nurses also see patients in their own homes, enabling a holistic assessment of their needs, and are also available to support patients on the phone whenever necessary within working hours.

The most common symptoms of TB are:

  • a cough for three weeks or longer
  • weight loss
  • loss of appetite
  • high temperature or fever
  • night sweats
  • extreme tiredness or lack of energy.

Symptoms of TB will depend on which part of the body is affected. For example, a cough is a common symptom of TB in the lungs. Someone with TB in the lymph nodes may have enlarged glands they can feel. Aches and pains in the joints could be TB in the bones. TB meningitis often gives a person severe headaches.

100%

Friends and Family test (FFT) score

(Feedback from April to June 2020)

Your comments

May 2020
Gravesham

Excellent service. Nurse fantastic. Rang the day before to explain everything and was great in giving out 5 week son his BCG injection. Thank you.

March 2020
Gravesham

(staff name) helped answer our questions and informed us about everything with TB so we did not worry about our baby having the BCG.

February 2020
Canterbury

Was very helpful and explained everything I needed to know made me feel at ease.

February 2020
Dover

Is safe and the staff very nice.

February 2020
Gravesham

The TB nurse has helped me overcome this journey, couldn't have done it without her.

January 2020
Gravesham

Very helpful and understanding. Reassuring and knowledgeable. Answered all my questions clearly.

December 2019
Dover

It was very fast and professional.

December 2019
Ashford

Very friendly and informative service.

December 2019
Folkestone

I was very happy with the care and support (staff name) gave to me and my whole family. Since I started my treatment (staff name) has visited me regularly and helped me and answered all my questions. I am very grateful to her.

July 2019
Gravesham

The nurse was very informative and friendly and very professional.

July 2019
Dartford

Service provision was exceptional. Nurse very friendly. She explained all that I needed to know in detail. (Dartford)

June 2019
Thanet

Very polite and caring.

June 2019
Ashford

Very friendly but professional. All explanations were clear. 

February 2019
Dartford

Lovely staff and fast.

February 2019
Dartford

Very happy, have a 14 month old so home visit around work as well was very helpful.

February 2019
Dartford

Friendly, helpful and accommodating.

January 2019
Ashford

The nurse was extremly friendly and nice which made me feel at ease overall. 

January 2019
Canterbury

Good service. Friendly and informative 

January 2019
Dartford

I am pleased with the service offered. Very good. Prompt and i benefitted of all the help that i need. I will recommend the service to friends and family if needed. 

January 2019
Folkestone

The nurse has been excellent. She dealt very well with my three year old son. 

June 2018
Canterbury

The procedure was made easy to understand.

April 2018
Dartford

Very friendly informative staff. Made us feel at ease , happy to answer any questions/concerns.

April 2018
Gravesham

I found the help and advice very good. I could not have coped without knowing , I could pick up phone to speak to someone.

March 2018
Gravesham

The nurse was very caring gives us great advice always. she made me feel comfortable and better.

February 2018
Gravesham

Very friendly staff. Explained the procedure well. Made us feel at ease. Doctor was brilliant. Very proffessional.

January 2018
Dover

Very thorough at explaining the vaccination and incredibly friendly.

January 2018
Canterbury

Very effective and informative session. Courteous staff.

January 2018
Gravesham

Felt like I was taken care of. Friendly and informative.

December 2016
Gravesend

I was looked after well when I was not sure what to do. At times I was very ill and confused. The advice given by Kate was very helpful. She was always our first point of call. We called on her many times through the treatment. Kate was extremely caring.