This meeting took place on 8 July 2015. Read the transcript here.
Homeless people, prisoners and ex-prisoners, people with drug and alcohol issues, people with mental health issues and migrant communities are some of London’s groups at high risk of contracting Tuberculosis (TB). These groups may be more reluctant or unable to go to the hospital or their GP. What can be done to better support them?
In its second meeting of an investigation into the rise of TB cases in the capital, the London Assembly Health Committee will discuss:
What role should community-based initiatives have in preventing, managing and controlling TB in London, particularly with high risk groups and communities?
What are the main challenges for getting TB on the political agenda?
What should the Mayor of London do to better support tackling TB?
The Health Committee will tomorrow hear from healthcare professionals and a patient advocate, who has survived TB. The following guests will be questioned:
Nalini Iyanger, Public Health Speciality Registrar, LB Harrow and Barnet Public Health Team
Dr Sue Collinson, TB Outreach worker, Homerton Hospital
Dr Alistair Story, Clinical lead, Find & Treat Service
Steve Bradley, Patient Advocate, TB Action Group
Dr Jessica Potter , Clinical Research Fellow, Barts Hospital Trust
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 8 July from 2:00pm in Committee Room 5 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend. The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Notes for Editors:
TB is a bacterial infection spread through the inhalation of droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but can affect any part of the body, including the glands, bones and nervous system. Non-pulmonary TB is not infectious.
Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
London Assembly Health Committee.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Ash Singleton on 020 7983 5769. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.