National Pandemic Flu Service

News and advice on Swine Flu for our patients.

Final Swine Flu clinic for under 5's was on Wednesday 3rd.

Last Adult flu clinic was on Thursday 28th Jan 4.30 – 6.30pm

We are currently reducing our routine appointments and increasing emergency slots to cope with Swine Flu

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Advice for our patients on Swine Influenza

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FLU - PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ADVICE

NATIONAL PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE CLOSES ON 11TH FEBRUARY

indicators now show that NHS pressures from influenza like illness and confirmed pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza infections are less than half what they were two weeks prior to the NPFS being switched on. Therefore, in consultation with stakeholders, the Department of Health has decided to stand down the NPFS effective 1am Thursday 11 February 2010. The service can be restored in 7 days should it be needed. Therefore, from 11 February 2010 onwards, antivirals will only be authorised via health care professionals using either antiviral authorisation vouchers.

Our final Swine Flu Clinic for the under 5's was on Wednesday 3rd February.

We have now repeatedly attempted to contact all under 5's (leaving messages when we cannot get hold of parents) to book swine flu jabs. We will not be trying again. Any parent who has not had a message should ensure we have their up-to-date contact numbers.

LAST ADULT SWINE FLU AND SEASONAL FLU CLINIC WAS ON 28TH JANUARY

For any patients in “at risk” catagories who have not yet had a Flu jab please ask at reception. There will be NO MORE "at risk" swine flu clinics. Doctors are advising that if you should still get a seasonal flu jab if you are in an "at risk" group.

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING THIS PAGE FOR FLU CLINIC DETAILS AND WHEN YOUR CATEGORY'S CLINIC APPEARS BELOW YOU SHOULD CALL THE PRACTICE TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!

Please ensure we have your current contact numbers - Contact us here

There will be no more special swine Flu Clinics. We have attempted to contact all eligible patients. If you think you are eligible please phone reception for details (avoid ringing at busy times; 0830 -0930 and 1400-1500).

We are currenty authorised to vaccinate catagories a, b, c and e listed below.

The swine flu clinical risk groups, in order of priority are:

  • a. Individuals aged six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups
  • b. Pregnant women
  • c. Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • d. People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups
  • e. Children 6 months to 5 years
  • Carers of "high risk" patients

If you think you are in an "at risk" group and have not been contacted please ring and ask.

New information leaflets below

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu, read up on swine flu symptoms, stay at home and check your condition using the NHS Choises.
Phone your GP if:

  • You think you may have Flu and would like/need antiviral (Tamiflu) treatment
  • you have a serious underlying illness
  • you are pregnant
  • you have a sick child under one year of age
  • your condition suddenly gets much worse
  • your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)

Note: the National Pandemic Flu Service is a new online service that will assess your symptoms. If required, it will provide an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication from a local collection point. This service cease on 11th Feb 2010

For those who do not have internet access, the same service can be accessed on:

  • Telephone: 0800 151 3100.
  • Minicom: 0800 151 3200.

For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service go to Flu Service – Q&A.

Background information Swine Flu

Swine flu is a type of flu. It usually affects pigs but it can also affect humans. The virus can be transmitted from humans to humans. Before Spring 2009, the virus rarely passed from humans to humans. Initially cases were reported in Mexico but now it has spread to many countries worldwide. Most cases are in America, Mexico, Canada, Japan, UK, Europe, Central America and Australia.

A new strain of the swine influenza virus emerged in Mexico in Spring 2009. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that this may result in a pandemic. A pandemic occurs when a new strain of influenza virus spreads easily between humans.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world. The WHO have stated the the UK is one of the most prepared countries in the world for a pandemic.

The WHO (World Health Organisation) has 6 threat levels. Currently at level 6

    Inter-pandemic period
  1. No new flu virus subtypes detected in humans
  2. Animal flu virus subtype proposes substantial risk

    3. Pandemic alert period
  3. Human infection with new subtype, but no (or rare) person to person spread to a close contact
  4. Small Cluster(s) with limited person to person transmission but spread is highly localised, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans
  5. Large cluster(s) but person to person spread still localised, suggesting the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans

    6. Pandemic period
  6. Increased and sustained transmission in the general population

In addition to this the UK has its own alert levels of which there are 4.

  1. Virus/cases only outside the UK
  2. Virus isolated in the UK
  3. Outbreak in the UK
  4. Widespread activity in the UK

We are at level 4

As in the rest of the UK the number of cases in Surrey is increasing daily.

What to do if you think you may have flu

Stay at home

This is important to prevent spread. There will still be people who do not have flu and who are ill. These people will still be visiting the doctor and because they are unwell are more at risk of catching the virus. Doctors need to be able to treat these people too and in as safe an environment as possible. Additionally if healthcare staff are put at unnecessary risk with contact they will become unwell and the surgery will have problems in keeping a service going. Staying at home reduces the risk to everyone else.

Contact the National Pandemic Flu Servic first - see above SERVICE ENDS 11th Feb

If on consulting the National Pandemic Flu Service they advise you to contact your GP, telephone the surgery. The receptionist will pass a message to one of the doctors who will call you back after or during surgery. Each caller will be asked a series of questions to try to determine if the symptoms could be Swine flu or another virus. We will need to know if you have had close contact with a case of Swine flu. This will give us a clearer picture of what to do next. Seasonal colds are also circulating at this time.

What happens if the doctor thinks I have Swine Flu?

The doctor will determine if anti-virals (e.g.Tamiflu) are to be issued. There is no longer a need to take swabs to confirm the diagnosis. The prescribing of anti-viral medication will only be for treatment especially of "at risk" cases (see below). Anti-viral drugs are not available on prescription and are dispensed from a number of pharmacies and Walk-inCentres by GP request. Ideally treatment to be administered within 12-48 hours of onset of symptoms.

Patients "At Risk" from Influenza:

  • Age over 65
  • Children under five
  • Pregnant women
  • Chronic respiratory disease (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Chronic heart disease
  • Chronic renal disease
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic neurological conditions
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • People who might be immunosuppressed

Resources

A list or resources for your to view/download that we think may be helpful to you

Swine Flu information line 0800 1 513 51

NHS Direct 0845 4647

Information leaflets (Adobe pdf format. Download Adobe Reader free here )

Useful web sites for information

This list will be updated regularly. Last updated 07/02/10

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