Plea to use swine flu helplines first (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Plea to use swine flu helplines first

6:19pm Friday 24th July 2009 in News By Hannah Baker

People who think they may have swine flu have been urged to use the new National Pandemic Flu Service first – and not to visit hospital A&E departments.

Hospitals in Bradford and Airedale have seen a rise in visitor numbers showing symptoms of the illness.

According to the Strategic Health Authority, there have been 19 swine flu-related admissions during the past week at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and 13 at Airedale NHS Trust.

Greg Fell, public health consultant for NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “We are seeing an increase in the number of people showing symptoms of swine flu visiting our hospitals, but this is not having adverse affect on any of our services.

“We have put systems in place to encourage people to use the National Pandemic Flu Service as their first port of call for help.”

The service, which was launched on Thursday, is made up of a website and call centres to help diagnose people with the illness.

Those diagnosed as having swine flu and offered anti-viral drugs will be given an authorisation number which will be used by their ‘flu friend’ – a friend or relative who does not have swine flu – to pick up their medication at specific collection points.

Dr Anita Sims, director of public health for Bradford and Airedale said: “I can’t stress enough how important it is for people to stay at home and not visit their GP or A&E if they think they have swine flu or flu-like illness.

“Everyone who has the virus will be offered anti-virals if they need them. However, many people will be able to recover from swine flu by simply using cold and flu medication from their pharmacist.

People with chronic lung, kidney or heart disease, under fives, over 65s and pregnant women are urged to use the new service as soon as they have symptoms.

Parents with children under one year should call their GP if their child has symptoms as soon as possible.

The National Pandemic Flu Service can be accessed by visiting direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or by calling 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (textphone). The Swine Flu Information Line is 0800 1 513 513.

e-mail: hannah.baker @telegraphandargus.co.uk