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There's another and increasing threat from air travel and from Heathrow - bringing disease into the country. Not only are there significant threat to public health, with SARS, AIDS, bird flu, etc ; there is the cost of preventative measures. See story below from 'Skyport' about the threat from tuberculosis.

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Workers warn of TB increase

More cash needed for airport screening units

The warning comes seven months after the Home Office pledged to slash the number of immigrants catching UK-bound flights with the disease, by testing them in their country of origin.

Skyport spoke to Health Control Unit (CRU) staff who say the new system is "haphazard" with immigrants from high-risk countries still granted entry visas without producing clean health certificates.

In 2004, the four units, located in each of the terminals, X-rayed over 175,000 passengers, identified up to 205 cases of active TB and referred 1,700 passengers with suspected TB to hospital.

It is feared these cases are the tip of the iceberg with many immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia passing through immigration controls with false health certificates and X-rays.

Despite this, funding troubles have thrown the future of the Heathrow's HCUs into doubt. Staff fear at least one of the units may be trimmed from offering 24-hour X-ray facilities in coming months.

Hillingdon Primary Care Trust (PCT) is given £800,000 each year by the Department of Health to pay for staff costs at the unit. Hi1lingdon Borough picks up the rest of the tab.

The PCT is facing a cash crisis as it has to repay a £13.5 million overspend on its budget by making severe cuts. However it claims the HCUs funding is ringfenced and will not be cut because of this deficit. "As far as we're concerned there will be no change to the funding," a PCT spokeswoman said. Only the DoH can decide to allocate more funds, she added.

One HCU worker, who does not want to be identified, is unconvinced by the response. "It's not just about allowing the units to run on the bare minimum. TB and now bird flu are serious public health concerns and political issues which need to be dealt with", the worker said. "If, for example, bird flu came to the UK we have to be organised, and staff need to already be recruited and trained to deal with it. It's no good throwing money at the problem once it's already here."

Referring to the above-average TB infection rates in Hillingdon, the worker said tens of thousands of pounds would be saved on the expensive treatment of TB patients if the HCUs frontline screening services were bolstered. "Someone must stand up and take responsibility for our funding," the worker said.

The Home Office said country of origin screening was ongoing and it is too early to assess how successful it has been.

Jan 06

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