The Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine provides inpatient and outpatient services from Birmingham Heartlands Hospital (BHH), with additional services provided at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital, as well as Birmingham Chest Clinic and Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.
We look after patients with complex infections acquired in the community and healthcare settings. We have expertise in the management of:
- drug resistant tuberculosis
- complex HIV
- neurological infections
- viral hepatitis
- orthopaedic bone and joint infections
- infections acquired during travel to tropical regions
- complex and unusual skin and soft tissue infections (e.g. leishmaniasis, leprosy)
- outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy/Complex Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy
We are a recognised specialist centre for tropical medicine and the recommended referral centre for UK military personnel with infectious and tropical diseases.
We operate as a multi-disciplinary team working closely with colleagues in microbiology, sexual health, immunology, radiology, general surgery and orthopaedics.
Our nurse specialists also run the Birmingham and Solihull OPAT service in partnership with community providers.
We operate an on call service for urgent telephone advice and referrals from health care professionals from across the region and beyond.
Inpatient care
We have a 46 bed unit within BHH to provide inpatient care, and a dedicated outreach consultation service to other patients across all of the Trust’s sites.
We work closely with other units across the West Midlands, as the regional provider of negative pressure isolation rooms for the care of people with diseases such as drug resistant tuberculosis.
Outpatient services
Outpatient services are hosted in a purpose built facility on the BHH site and include:
- clinics for tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and HIV
- general infectious diseases and tropical medicine and military patients from UK and overseas deployments
- the provision of community intravenous antibiotics
The department accepts outpatient referrals from across Birmingham. We are usually able to see urgent cases within 48 hours.
Training
We provide training to doctors specialising in infectious diseases and tropical medicine.
The Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine is one of three units accredited for tropical medicine training in the UK, which reflects the frequency and range of imported infections.
Academic associations
We have close links with the University of Birmingham and University of Warwick Medical School. Several members of the department hold academic appointments. We are heavily involved in the delivery of infection teaching for medical students and are involved in research projects, both in the UK and overseas.
Contact us
Secretaries
Outpatient reception
On call consultant/registrar (for use by healthcare professionals only)
Last reviewed: 14 June 2023