A HOSPITAL patient is being held under guard to prevent him going home and spreading TB.
Council bosses took the unusual step of going to court to get an order forcing the man to stay in a specialist infectious disease unit.
A guard has reportedly been posted round-the-clock outside his room at North Manchester General for eight weeks.
It is believed doctors feared the man, from Rochdale, would not stick to drug treatment and could infect other people. They made the decision `with regret' to protect the public.
An order from Manchester Magistrates' Court prevents him leaving before November 2 - almost three months after he was originally banned from going home.
Medics say it could take months before his treatment is complete.
It is understood that if an application is made to extend the detention, newly appointed lawyers for the man plan to challenge the order using human rights legislation.
TB, an infection which usually affects the lungs, is on the increase across the north west. The man, believed to be from South Africa, needs complex treatment.
Health Protection Agency workers are investigating who he has been in contact with to see if anyone else has been put at risk. But they stress it takes prolonged and close contact with a sufferer to contract the disease.
It is believed to be the second time in recent years that a court order has been used to detain someone for hospital treatment in Greater Manchester.
In a statement, the council said: "We can confirm that we applied in August under Sections 37 and 38 of the Public Health Act (Control of Disease) 1984 for a patient to be removed to and detained in hospital.
"The patient is now undergoing treatment for tuberculosis. This action was taken with great regret and after considerable deliberation and consultation with our partner agencies Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, the Health Protection Agency's Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, and Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust."
Council officers first went to court on August 10 and were granted a seven-day detention order; this was renewed for 28 days on August 16, then again on September 12 and again last Friday.
Last night health chiefs refused to comment on security arrangements at the hospital.
The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency suggest 764 people were diagnosed with TB in the north west last year, mostly in Greater Manchester, compared with 649 in 2001.
Most TB sufferers in this country have links with Africa, India or China where the infection is widespread.
There are good treatments for the disease - it is usually cured with a six-month course of drugs. But there are strains which don't respond to the usual drugs, which are harder to treat. In extreme cases, the condition can prove fatal.
Last night, through his lawyers, the man refused to comment.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
The Bobelesque, In The Rye (09/10/2007 at 09:11)
better off red (09/10/2007 at 09:31)
Timberman (09/10/2007 at 09:32)
The Bobelesque, In The Rye (09/10/2007 at 10:10)
Mike S, Manchester (09/10/2007 at 10:23)
ace, manchester (09/10/2007 at 10:36)
Gloria (09/10/2007 at 10:49)
Leo B (09/10/2007 at 11:46)
edwards (09/10/2007 at 11:52)
Hammy Hamster, Middle O'Nowhere (09/10/2007 at 11:55)
Should we send all the doctors and nurses back at the same time then? Everyone knows how reliant the NHS is on overseas staff.
By the way, does anyone want to discuss the number of soldiers, sailors and flight crews from around the world who gave their lives to help beat the Nazis. If it wasn't for that then you wouldn't even have the freedom put up your comments - or maybe you would...
mauger 9, HANNOVER GERMANY (09/10/2007 at 12:10)
ebola.The list goes on.
Calamity (09/10/2007 at 12:29)
Mike, Manchester (09/10/2007 at 12:32)
milo (09/10/2007 at 12:32)
Joey, Ashton under Lyne, (09/10/2007 at 13:01)
"im sorry but i remember the government telling us all about the benefits of immgration and how we would all benefit?"
How about the employment of 6 security guards for his detention 24/7, not to mention all the NHS staff in his treatment - learning about how to treat diseases that we thought we had got rid of.
The Bobelesque, In The Rye (09/10/2007 at 13:07)
had enough, Walkden (09/10/2007 at 13:15)
Charlotte (09/10/2007 at 13:17)
The Bobelesque, In The Rye (09/10/2007 at 13:38)
David,North M/C (09/10/2007 at 13:56)
benjidog, Manchester (09/10/2007 at 13:59)
Hammy Hamster, Middle O'Nowhere (09/10/2007 at 14:09)
The story doesn't say anything about the individual's wealth/occupation, any other personal details or when he arrived in the country, yet there are postings saying that 'he's come here for free treatment'.
How does anyone know? The answer is that they don't. Re-read the story (which is what everyone's supposed to be commenting on, isn't it?). Then re-read the comments. Couple of assumptions in there, is there not?
On the Nazis, my point is that we are often too quick to forget how we benefit from the efforts or sacrifices of people from other countries.
For example, think back a few months and you'll recall a spate of stories about how Poles were going to flood into the country. I used to work in the East Midlands and anyone who doubts the debt we owe to that country should visit the war graves of the Polish air force pilots who fled the Nazi invasion and then chose to fight (and die) alongside British pilots - Polish war memorials and graveyards are dotted around the country. Even if you only stick to the example of air forces, South Africans also paid a heavy price - check out the Wikipedia link for further reading - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Air_Force
Now those are effectively historic points, I accept, but you can certainly argue that we are all currently reaping the benefits of a world economy - you don't want to pay too much for that DVD player, do you - maybe £20? And those jeans, what a bargain at a fiver.
So, if we demand the benefits of a world economy, then why should we be so shocked if, er, people move round the world. Seems reasonable to me.
Sharon O'Donnell, Prestwich (09/10/2007 at 14:39)
mike (09/10/2007 at 14:54)
If Hammy Hamster thinks that we owe the rest of the world something because they helped us fight the Nazis, then, logically, shouldn't they be treated by Germany's hospitals? After all, they started it.
Incidentally, if we have to be nice to those who fought with us in WWII, does that mean we have to be nasty to the Germans and Japanese?
ace, manchester (09/10/2007 at 15:24)