Tuberculosis Nursing Service

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.