Report an Infectious Disease to Birmingham Council

Public Health and Welfare England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 11, 2026 Flag of England

Birmingham, England residents and clinicians must follow statutory reporting routes when an infectious disease is suspected. Clinicians and laboratories have a legal duty to notify the proper officer and health protection teams for notifiable diseases; members of the public should report concerns to Birmingham City Council Public Health or Environmental Health so the case can be assessed and, where needed, escalated to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Report notifiable diseases guidance[1]

If you are a clinician, follow the national notification procedure immediately.

Who is responsible

The primary enforcing roles for infectious-disease notifications and local public-health responses are:

  • Local authority Public Health team or Environmental Health (Birmingham City Council) for investigation, local control measures and liaison with partners.
  • UK Health Security Agency (local health protection team) for incident management and national disease control functions.

How to report

Clinicians and diagnostic labs must notify notifiable diseases to the proper officer and to the local health protection team as set out in national guidance; the public should contact Birmingham City Council via the council's public health or environmental health contact pages to report suspected cases, outbreaks in institutions, or concerns about infection control in businesses or schools.

  • For immediate threats or outbreaks, report without delay by telephone to the council or the local health protection team.
  • Provide details: name, address, date of onset, symptoms, test results (if any) and any institutional setting involved (school, care home, food business).
Always give accurate contact details so public-health staff can follow up.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement responsibility rests with Birmingham City Council's Public Health/Environmental Health teams in liaison with the UKHSA where required; statutory duties to notify and to comply with public-health directions are set by national legislation and regulations. Specific monetary penalties and ranges for failing to notify or for breaching control measures are not specified on the cited national guidance page and should be confirmed with the enforcing authority below.[1]

  • Fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: the cited guidance does not set a fixed first/repeat/continuing offence scale; enforcement may range from advisory notices to prosecution depending on severity.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: public-health orders, exclusion or isolation directions, closure or prohibition notices, seizure of contaminated items, or prosecution in magistrates' or higher courts may be used.
  • Enforcer: Birmingham City Council Public Health/Environmental Health in partnership with UKHSA local health protection teams; use official complaint/contact pages to submit reports.
  • Appeals and reviews: specific appeal routes and statutory time limits vary by the type of order or notice; the cited guidance does not list time limits and you should request appeal information with any formal notice.
If you receive a formal public-health order, act quickly and seek the stated appeal information immediately.

Applications & Forms

There is no single national public form for notifying notifiable diseases; clinicians use statutory notification processes and laboratories report through designated channels. For local reporting by the public or institutions, Birmingham City Council publishes contact and reporting routes on its official site; if no local form is published, report by the council's stated telephone or online contact method.

Action steps

  • Clinicians: notify the proper officer and local health protection team immediately following national procedures.
  • Public: contact Birmingham City Council Environmental Health/Public Health with patient or outbreak details.
  • Institutions: preserve records, isolate affected persons as advised, and cooperate with inspections and sample requests.

FAQ

Who must legally notify an infectious disease?
Medical practitioners and diagnostic laboratories have statutory duties to notify certain diseases; members of the public should report concerns to the council or NHS services.
How fast must I report?
Notifiable diseases should be reported without delay; contact the local health protection team or the council immediately for suspected outbreaks or serious infections.
Can the council close a business for infection control?
Yes, the council can issue control measures including closure or prohibition notices where public health requires it.

How-To

  1. Identify: record symptoms, onset date, test results and any contacts or settings involved.
  2. Clinician notification: clinicians notify the proper officer and local health protection team per national guidance.
  3. Public reporting: phone or use Birmingham City Council's reported contact route to submit details for investigation.
  4. Cooperate: follow public-health advice, keep records, and attend any required examinations or isolation.
  5. Appeal: if you receive a formal order, request the appeal procedure and time limits stated on the notice immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Notify without delay: speed matters for controlling spread and protecting vulnerable settings.
  • Birmingham Council and UKHSA share duties; use both local and national routes when required.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] UK government guidance on notifiable diseases and how to report

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