The North of Tyne tuberculosis (TB) service aims to identify and treat active TB cases early, perform contact screening and treat latent TB cases.
The team also provides specialist clinical advice and care for complex TB cases from around the north east and manages all cases of multidrug resistant TB.
We discuss all cases at a bimonthly TB multidisciplinary team meeting and also specialise in diagnosing and treating patients with complex lung infection from non tuberculous mycobacteria.
The team
- Consultant respiratory physician
- Infectious diseases consultants
- Community TB nurse specialists
- TB laboratory technicians
- Public health nurses and doctors
Symptoms
Tuberculosis can present in many different ways, but the most common symptoms are:
- Night sweats
- Fevers
- Productive cough (sometimes with blood)
- Loss of weight
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive tiredness
Quick referral
If you are worried that you may have symptoms of active TB infection or have been in close prolonged contact with someone with infectious TB infection, then please see your GP urgently who may arrange a chest x-ray and discuss your case with the TB nurse specialists.
Alternatively, you may be referred directly to the North of Tyne TB service via ereferral using the TB RAS service.
Key contacts
Fiona Cook (TB nurse specialist)
Telephone: 07721922506
Helen Hattam (TB nurse specialist)
Telephone: 07766204868
Dr Jim Macfarlane (TB service lead)
Telephone: 0191 2420138
