Swine Flu UK Update

Doctors have been "unnerved" by the severity of swine flu in some patients and their rapid deterioration into a "life and death situation", Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer has said. Almost a quarter of patients in critical care with swine flu are children and doctors are “unnerved” by the severity of the disease, the Chief Medical Officer reported yesterday. The NHS has been told to brace itself for action after a steep rise in swine flu infections. The number of new cases reported in England over the past week has nearly doubled to 53000. In Scotland, there was a slight rise to 14650. Hospitals are reporting record numbers of patients being treated in the pandemic and the death toll has risen to 128

The swine flu outbreak has left the Department of Health facing the “most difficult winter” for decades, it has been warned. Senior health officials delivered the warning during an emergency meeting with the Stormont health committee yesterday.

Vaccinations against swine flu have started – with those most at risk and NHS staff at the front of the queue. There have been fears that there would be a low take-up among NHS staff, The programme will be rolled out in the coming weeks with vaccines due to be delivered to GP surgeries on Monday. GPs should brace themselves for 'unprecedented' levels of workload, the Department of Health has warned. About 55000 doses have been delivered so far and more are due to arrive soon. At risk groups include those aged between six months and 65.

But there are concerns that thousands of people could miss appointments for their swine flu vaccine due to the postal strikes, Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer has warned.

THE NUMBER of cases of Teessiders being treated for swine flu has rocketed in the last month, latest figures published by the NHS have revealed. The National Flu Pandemic Service authorised 1134 antiviral prescriptions across the region between October and NHS Hampshire has begun delivering an initial batch of 14300 doses to the sick and elderly along with frontline health staff as sickness rates continue to edge up in the county.
Tens of thousands of NHS and council staff are among the priority and at-risk groups to be offered Wales' first supplies. Patients at a Cardiff GP surgery are the first in Wales to receive the new swine flu vaccine. All pregnant women in Buckinghamshire are being contacted by their gps to have the swine flu vaccination. People who live with those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients, and people with certain health conditions are also a priority. DETAILS about the start of the swine flu vaccination programme in Wales are expected to be announced today. Up to 750000 people in Wales are considered to be in the at-risk groups and will be the first to be offered the jab.

A group of pcts is reportedly to pay practices extra for immunising healthcare workers against swine flu as NHS managers admit many gps are set to refuse to have the vaccine.

West Midlands health chiefs have confirmed two further swine flu-related deaths amid a rise in new cases. An NHS spokesman said 113 people with swine flu had been admitted to hospital in the wider region this week, compared to 85 previously.