Website of the Department of Health

Getting Ahead of the Curve - A Strategy for Infectious Diseases

In Getting ahead of the curve - A strategy for infectious diseases (including other aspects of health protection) the Department of Health (DH) gave a commitment to high qualilty diagnostic microbiology services for the NHS that contribute to the protection of the public health in England. In addition, and as part of the strategy, DH has decided to transfer the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) laboratories providing mostly general clinical microbiology services to the NHS. DH now seeks views on the transfer process. This discussion paper sets out a way forward, taking account of input from providers, users, and professional bodies involved in microbiology services.

This consultation asks for comments on the transfer to the NHS of the Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories providing mostly general clinical microbiology services.

• Getting Ahead of the Curve
• Getting ahead of the curve: a strategy for combating infectious diseases (including other aspects of health protection)