People who suspect they may have swine flu are being asked to stay at home and contact their GP by telephone.

In response to increasing pressures on front line NHS and social care services, the NPFS was activated in July to provide a self-care service for people to assess their symptoms and, if necessary, to access antiviral medicines rapidly from antiviral collection points.

NPFS has been very successful in easing pressure on primary care services during the busiest times of the pandemic, allowing GPs to focus on those most ill and ensuring people get access to antivirals when they need them.

With indicators currently showing that NHS pressures from swine flu are now less than half they were two weeks prior to NPFS being switched on, the Department of Health has decided to stand down the service. This service can be restored in seven days should it be needed.

The swine flu information line will continue to operate and will provide recorded information messages, directing people to contact their GPs if appropriate and giving information about swine flu and self care.

Sue Wright, NHS Rotherham Senior Pharmaceutical & Prescribing Adviser said: “From 11 February 2010 anyone who suspects they have swine flu should contact their doctor for assessment of their symptoms and the doctor will issue an antiviral authorisation voucher if needed.  

“Rotherham currently has ten pharmacies acting as antiviral collection points (ACPs) and for the time being, antivirals will continue to be collected through these ACPs.  People with swine flu should ask their flu friend to collect their antivirals on their behalf. Antivirals will continue to be issued to patients with swine flu symptoms, under this system, free of charge until at least the end March 2010, the end of the seasonal flu period.

“Surveillance of swine flu cases will also continue to monitor any significant additional pressures on primary healthcare services.”

The swine flu vaccination programme continues in Rotherham.

John Radford, NHS Rotherham Director of Public Health said: It is extremely important that we do not allow the current low levels of influenza like illness and the stand down of the NPFS to lead to a sense of complacency.

“NHS Rotherham’s swine flu vaccination programme is still underway with vaccination programmes being delivered through GP practices and other health services for those at risk, such as people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women.

“In December 09 the vaccination programme was extended to include healthy children over six months and under five years old. This decision was taken national as children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu.

“Parents of children who are over six months and under five years should contact their local surgery to arrange vaccination if they have not already done so. Children over six months and under five who are in a clinical risk group were offered the vaccine as part of the first phase of the vaccination programme.”

What should I do if I think I have swine flu?

If you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms, you may have swine flu:

• unusual tiredness, 
• headache,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• shortness of breath or cough,
• loss of appetite, 
• aching muscles,
• diarrhoea or vomiting.

If you think you may have swine flu, please stay at home and contact your GP surgery via telephone. Patients are being reminded not to go in to the surgery if they have flu like symptoms. If you have no symptoms you should continue to go about your normal activities.

You can reduce your risk of getting flu by following a few simple rules:

• Maintain good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
• Making sure that all members of your family follow this advice.

NHSR10-P11

For further information please email Fiona Topliss, Head of Communications, NHS Rotherham or call 01709 302073