Hundreds use county swine flu drug points
Wednesday 29th July 2009, 11:29AM BST.
Nearly 500 people have used Tamiflu collection points across Shropshire following the opening of the national swine flu line.
Five centres are currently being operated by Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.
But more could open if there is a big rise in demand for the antiviral medication.
June Patel, the trust managing director of community health services, said 476 people had been to the centres since they opened last Thursday.
She told the trust board yesterday that demand had been particularly high in Shrewsbury and “fairly high” in Oswestry.
Demand for the drug had been lower in Bridgnorth and Ludlow.
Mrs Patel also said that Shropshire had never been a “hotspot” for swine flu as had been been previously claimed.
She said that the symptoms of the virus remained relatively mild and most people recovered quickly.
But a report she presented warned that there is still uncertainty about the “behaviour” of the virus.
It said that the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin primary care trusts had developed comprehensive pandemic influenza plans which had been confirmed to be “effective and robust”.
Shropshire County PCT is ready to open 10 Tamiflu collection points if the number of suspected cases increases.
Four of the centres can be kept open on a 24-hour basis if necessary.
More than 400 trust staff have been trained to help.
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