THE only way to curb the rising number of TB cases is for the health service to work more collaboratively, according to the head of the UK Health Protection Agency.

Professor Pat Troop, chief executive of the agency, was in Newcastle yesterday, meeting staff from across the region.

After her visit, she told The Northern Echo that she approved of the new approach to TB recently announced by the chief medical officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson.

She said: "Only by collaborative working and gearing services to patients' needs will we make progress."

The main problem was ensuring that patients infected with TB who had no fixed job or home finished their course of medication, avoiding the creation of drug-resistant strains of the potentially fatal chest disease.

"We are part of a global system in which TB kills eight million people a year but in the modern, developed part of the world we should really be able to get on top of TB," she said.

Prof Troop said that she admired recent progress in New York, where TB levels had greatly reduced.

So far, a total of 127 TB cases have been confirmed in the North-East up to June this year.

This total compares with 161 in the whole of last year and 166 the previous year, which suggests an upward trend.

Prof Troop said she was "very impressed" by the regional agency team.

"You can see things developing and getting stronger all the time," she said.

Dr Vivien Hollyoak, director of the agency in the North-East, said she was pleased to have the opportunity to share with Prof Troop some of the excellent work being carried out in the region.

The visit also recognised the work of laboratory staff, consultants and nurses.