Mayday Hospital is trying to trace 16 people who were in a ward with a patient at the centre of a tuberculosis scare last year.

Doctors want the former in-patients to be screened and have sent letters to their homes.

They had prolonged contact with a patient on Heathfield 2 ward during November and December last year.

The hospital said patients who shared a bay with the patient have been sent information on the disease and GPs have been informed.

A spokesman said there were was no significant risk. Gavin Marsh, medical director for Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "The risk of contracting tuberculosis is linked to how long you have been exposed to someone with the disease, your medical condition at the time and whether your immune system is suppressed. The likelihood of anyone contracting tuberculosis from this patient is very small but the hospital is taking seriously its responsibilities to our staff, patients and public health."

The hospital has also sought guidance from the Health Protection Agency. It has not revealed any information about the individuals involved.

Tuberculosis Factbox

  • Tuberculosis is an infectious disease (a bacterial infection) that usually affects the lungs, although it can affect any part of the body. Tuberculosis used to be very common, but now about 7,000 people get it each year in the UK.
  • It is spread through the air when people who have the disease cough or sneeze. However, you need to be close to an infectious person for many days to catch the disease.
  • Only those with tuberculosis in the lungs can be infectious.
  • Certain groups of people are at more risk of contracting tuberculosis, for example those who are unable to fight off infection.
  • It is treatable and curable with a course of antibiotics. Treatment lasts six months.
  • Tuberculosis screening is carried out on those who have been in close, prolonged contact with someone who has the disease.
  • Screening involves either a chest x-ray, skin test or both.
  • Symptoms of tuberculosis include fever and night sweats, cough, losing weight and blood in the phlegm or spit.