Local residents urged to use National
Pandemic Flu Service
A new service launched today will give people with swine
flu symptoms fast access to antivirals. The National Pandemic Flu
Service, which was launched by Health Secretary Andy Burnham, will
relieve pressure on GPs and the NHS.
The National Pandemic Flu Service website
www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
and phoneline 0800 1 513
100 and text phoneline 0800 1 513 200
will allow people to check their symptoms and get a unique number
which will give them access to antivirals if necessary.
Dr. Ros Maycock, local GP and Professional
Executive Committee Chairperson at NHS Bournemouth and Poole,
said:
“It is important that people with symptoms of
swine flu access this new service. This will help to free up GPs,
enabling them to deal with other patients that need their urgent
attention.
“It must be stressed that, for the vast
majority of people, swine flu has been relatively mild. Many people
find that they get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of
water and taking over the counter flu medication.”
“People who have swine flu symptoms should
contact the National Pandemic Flu Information Service, where they
can be diagnosed and where necessary, given a unique access number
and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They
should then ask a flu friend – a friend or relative who doesn’t
have swine flu – to go and pick up their antiviral.”
The flu friend must show their own ID as well
as that of the patient. The authorisation number and ID information
will be checked to ensure it matches the information provided when
the assessment of symptoms was completed.
Anyone who suspects they have swine flu is
advised not to go to their GP or A&E.
People should contact their own GP,
rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service only
if:
they have a serious underlying illness;
they are pregnant;
they have a sick child under one year old;
their condition suddenly gets much worse; or
if their condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 for a
child)
As swine flu spreads, it is important to be
able to recognise its symptoms. People who have two of the
following symptoms and a temperature of 38° C and above or feel hot
may have swine flu.
The typical symptoms are:
•
sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38C/100.4F or above),
and
•
sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:
•
headache,
•
tiredness,
•
chills,
•
aching muscles,
•
limb or joint pain,
•
diarrhoea or stomach upset,
•
sore throat,
•
runny nose,
•
sneezing,
•
loss of appetite.
Dr Forbes Watson, Dorset GP and Chair of the
Professional Executive Committee at NHS Dorset said:
“The National Pandemic Flu Service will give
patients rapid access to information and antivirals. It will help
to free up GPs so they can focus their efforts on helping those in
at risk groups and patients with other illnesses.
“People can still speak to their GP if they
are concerned. In fact, it is important to stress that people with
underlying health conditions, pregnant women and parents with
children under the age of one should speak to their GP if they have
symptoms.”
Link: The
National Pandemic Flu Service website www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
Contact: The National Pandemic Flu
Service phoneline 0800 1 513 100 and text phoneline 0800 1 513
200