National Knowledge Service - TB Pilot

The National Knowledge Service TB Pilot is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the HPA working with the NHS and various voluntary organizations. This Project aims to ensure that sources of information and knowledge on tuberculosis are brought together for healthcare professionals and patients. This will enable both professionals and patients to base their decisions on best current knowledge.

The National Knowledge Service TB Pilot is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the HPA working with the NHS and various voluntary organizations. This Project aims to ensure that sources of information and knowledge on tuberculosis are brought together for healthcare professionals and patients. This will enable both professionals and patients to base their decisions on best current knowledge.

The National Knowledge Service is part of the NHS National Programme for IT. The National Knowledge Service tuberculosis pilot is to show how targeted context specific information might be delivered to professionals providing services for the diagnosis and management of patients with tuberculosis and their contacts.

Information outputs will be mapped on to the patient care pathway that is defined by the National Tuberculosis Action Plan and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on tuberculosis, such that they can be used within the context of the clinical consultation or public health action. Emphasis will be on short, tailored and easily accessible information outputs. Much of the supporting technology that will be used to deliver these information outputs will be provided through the National Programme for Information Technology - particularly the Map of Medicine or through the National Library for Health and its specialist libraries. In addition to developing information or resources relevant to NICE guidelines on TB, the pilot will identify gaps and important knowledge areas not addressed by the NICE guidelines.

The National Knowledge Service tuberculosis pilot also recognises that patients and public need rapid access to point of care information about their disease and its treatment at all times. NKS for TB aims to raise awareness by working with charities and voluntary organisations already involved in supporting the patient and public e.g. Homeless Link and TB Alert.

The overall direction and management of the Project is governed by a Project Board. The Project Board comprises members from different professional backgrounds, with expertise and experience in the diagnosis, control and prevention of TB.