Petition The remit of Public Health England should be widened and enhanced

For example Public Health England runs the key Microbiology laboratories.

There are also many microbiology laboratories in NHS Trusts

Microbiology laboratories in NHS Trust's are under pressure by Trust Directors to provide results which are sympathetic to the image of the Trust for example in respect of meeting MRSA and Cdifficile targets. The results provided in Trusts are not independent.

Public Health England is the only public organisation that could run all Microbiology laboratories in England and provide their service to all public bodies, the private and academic sector

The following could be achieved if all health microbiology laboratories were transferred to Public Health England

(i) independence and confidence in respect of the results

(ii) rationalisation of microbiology in the UK releasing cash in NHS Trust's to front line services

(iii) world class microbiology facilities