Tuberculosis Nurses Forum (1241)

For all involved in TB care, the forum aims to raise awareness of the disease and keep nurses up to date with research. The forum has been running for a number of years now and has gone from strength to strength, in terms of the way it influences decisions made by others about TB services, and in relation to the number of members - at the last count, there were almost 750 nurses registered with the forum. The more members we have, the louder our voice will be.

Over the years, the forum has welcomed nurses from various backgrounds on to the steering committee. These have included TB nurses, respiratory nurses (who also work with TB), and public health nurses. In addition, most of the countries of the UK have been invited to nominate a representative to sit on the steering committee. These approaches have helped to ensure that there is as wide a representation on the committee as possible, and can take into consideration the regional and national issues that often dictate how TB services are offered.

Aims
  • To represent the forum members
  • To ensure that TB nurses have a “voice at the table”, whenever and wherever TB issues are debated or guidelines and policy are developed
  • One of our key objectives is to assist nurses working in the field of TB in England to implement the National Action Plan to stop TB in England
  • We also provide support to nurses working in TB in the other countries of the UK
  • We are working with Skills for Health to develop a set of core competencies required to deliver a first-class TB service as well as implementing the Action Plan. This will also address some key “Agenda for Change” issues
  • We disseminate information to our members via the bi-annual newsletter Communique (see Publications)
  • On behalf of the forum members, we challenge current boundaries of practice through our presence at RCN Congress. We propose resolutions, vote on resolutions, contribute to debate and provide educational activities
  • We organise the annual TB nurses conference. This provides a forum for sharing best national and international practice, as well as fostering a valuable environment for professional networking
  • We are here for you. If there is anything you would like to see us doing please speak with one of the Forum’s steering committee members.

newsletterplus - Communique