Swine Flu UK update

UK: As Swine flu vaccines are starting to arrive at GP surgeries so that 12m "priority" patients can be immunised GPs are warning that winter vomiting bug cases are rising at the same time as swine flu. They are urging patients with minor illnesses to stay away from surgeries as a combination of the winter vomiting bug and the second wave of swine flu starts to grip the country.

The UK Department of Health has updated its pandemic flu outlook in a new document 'Swine Flu: Guidance for planners' as frontline nurses are being told that getting vaccinated against swine flu is the 'single most important thing' they can do to help the NHS because Pandemic swine flu poses a major threat to the NHS' capacity over the next few months. Nurses and doctors have also been urged to set an example to patients by having themselves vaccinated against swine flu.

Swine Flu Action Around the UK
The leader of Scotland's doctors says GPs are being inundated with swine flu queries from worried patients as the vaccination drive kicks off. Labour in Scotland yesterday claimed the swine flu vaccination drive could "descend into chaos" as it emerged two more Scots had died of the virus. The Tories have demanded that the Health Secretary make a statement to the Scottish Parliament.

In Cheshire Health chiefs are urging residents who are offered the seasonal flu jab to take the opportunity to protect themselves and their families while in Worcestershire as the number of sufferers nearly doubled health workers have been urged to vaccinate themselves against swine flu.
In Devon a mass swine flu vaccination has been launched with front-line NHS staff and hospital patients first in the queue for the jab. NHS North Somerset launched a seasonal flu vaccination programme to ensure as many employees as possible receive the vaccination. Frontline workers at the Royal United Hospital became the first people in Bath to be vaccinated against swine flu.

THE first frontline NHS staff in Wales have started to be vaccinated against swine flu.