Guidance

Management of tuberculosis in secure settings in England

Guidance for custodial and healthcare teams in secure settings, NHS tuberculosis (TB) services and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) health protection teams.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 1 May 2013
• Last updated: 17 April 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 17 April 2026

     Added the feedback form.

  2. 9 October 2025

     Replaces both 'Management of TB in prisons for prison healthcare teams' (published in 2013) and 'Guidance for health protection teams (HPTs) on responding to TB incidents and outbreaks in prisons and other places of detention' (published in 2014) and combines them into one single guidance for all audiences in secure settings.

  3. 15 July 2025

     Rebranded page to UKHSA. No change to content.

  4. 1 May 2013

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Management of tuberculosis in secure settings in England

HTML

Summary of recommendations

HTML

Appendix 1: List of contributors

HTML

Appendix 2: Supplementary evidence

HTML

Appendix 3: Responsibilities of system partners

HTML

Appendix 4: Multiagency plan for the management of incidents and outbreaks of tuberculosis in secure settings in England

MS Word Document, 38.5 KB

Appendix 5: Reception screening

PDF, 158 KB, 7 pages

Appendix 6: Ambitious goals

HTML

Appendix 7: Notification routes

PDF, 146 KB, 2 pages

Appendix 8: Operational checklist

PDF, 112 KB, 3 pages

Appendix 9: Useful TB contacts

MS Word Document, 59.3 KB

Details

This guidance is intended to support the collaborative approach to prevention, diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB) in secure settings.

It is targeted at:

• healthcare and non-healthcare teams in secure settings
• local TB services
• NHS commissioners
• health protection teams (HPTs)
• TB control boards

The guidance outlines how to detect and manage cases, notify necessary stakeholders of TB cases and manage outbreaks, including preventing new cases in residents and staff.

The settings in England covered are:

• prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) with residents aged 18 and above
• approved premises (APs)
• immigration removal centres (IRCs) and residential short-term holding facilities (maximum stay for 7 days) and residential holding rooms (maximum stay for 96 hours)

Feedback

You can give feedback on the Management of Tuberculosis (TB) in Secure Settings in England Guidance by emailing us at  healthequityinclusionhealth@ukhsa.gov.uk or by completing this short survey: