The government has launched the National Pandemic Flu Service. This will help take the pressure off front-line health services and give people access to antiviral drugs without having to see a GP. This is just part of the government’s coherent national and local response across the UK.
The National Pandemic Flu Service
A new National Pandemic Flu Service has been launched. This is designed to free up GPs so they can focus on helping those in higher risk groups and patients with other illnesses.
A website and call centres have been set up to help diagnose people who think they might have swine flu.
If you think you might have swine flu, check your symptoms by following the link below, or call 0800 1 513 100 (0800 1 513 200 for textphone).
For more information on what to do if you think you have swine flu, follow the prevention and treatment link below.
Swine flu – prevention and treatment
Containment to treatment
As more people catch the virus in their communities rather than from abroad, it has become less effective to try to contain swine flu.
Health services need to spend more time and energy treating the increasing numbers who have the virus, so following the agreement of ministers in all four UK nations, the government has decided to move from containment and outbreak management policies to the treatment phase.
This means that:
- GPs can diagnose swine flu on the basis of symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing
- all tracing of people who have been in contact with a sufferer will stop
- people who may have been exposed to the virus will not be given antiviral drugs
- anyone who is diagnosed with swine flu will continue to be offered antivirals until further notice
Slowing the spread of a pandemic
Social gatherings
Although close contact with others, particularly in a crowded and confined space, speeds the spread of the virus, there is little evidence that cancelling public gatherings would help the community.
However, international gatherings held in the UK, with participants coming from infected areas, may be postponed.
Travel restrictions
Imposing general travel restrictions is unlikely to have a large impact on a pandemic. It is far more effective for people feeling the symptoms of flu to stay at home and rest.
Health
The Department of Health leads the response to the swine flu (influenza A H1N1) outbreak. Its contingency plans include:
- looking after patients in the community
- providing specialist care for those who need it
- making sure the appropriate infection control facilities are available
- helping to distribute antiviral drugs
- minimising the disruption to other NHS work
- providing arrangements to make sure enough health staff are available
- making arrangements for mass vaccination when required
All NHS organisations have pandemic plans in place and they continue to review and test those plans.
Schools and services
All public services – including schools – may be affected by staff being ill or through disruption to transport. Schools may also be shut if there is a confirmed outbreak of swine flu. Stay tuned to local radio or TV and keep up to date with local, recent developments.
Swine flu advice for parents and pregnant women
Find local swine flu information
General advice
If you think you have swine flu, check your symptoms online by following the National Pandemic Flu Service link below, or call 0800 1 513 100 (0800 1 513 200 for textphone).
Contact your GP directly if:
- you have a serious underlying illness
- you are pregnant
- you have a sick child under one year old
- your condition suddenly gets much worse
- your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)
Follow the links below for more information.
