The UK Health security Agency (UKHSA) is working to build awareness of tuberculosis (TB) in English prisons given several recent deaths in custody from TB. TB is curable and with early detection and treatment these deaths could have been preventable. People with a history of imprisonment have a rate of TB four times higher than the general population. TB incidents and outbreaks in prisons pose a significant health risk for staff and prisoners, while also causing operational disruptions and placing a heavy demand on resources.
To help combat TB in prisons UKHSA has taken the following actions:
- Delivered a national awareness raising webinar for prison and health staff encouraging them to ‘think TB’; this webinar is available to watch here.
- Developed and published bespoke TB resources for prisons, including information on risks, symptoms and continuity of TB treatment. These are available here.
- On 9th October 2025 newly refreshed national TB guidance for prisons and places of detention will be published. On the 17th November a new verbal reception screening process for TB will also be introduced in all prisons.
Further recommendations and resources for those who want to develop, support or deliver services for inclusion health groups and those affected by tuberculosis is available in a toolkit.
Access the toolkit here.