County sees more seek swine flu aid

More people in Shropshire are consulting their GPs about swine flu than anywhere else in the region despite new figures showing a fall in reported cases of the virus in the county.

The number of people presenting with symptoms of the virus in Shropshire showed a significant drop in the week ending August 23, figures show today. A drop has also been reported across the West Midlands and England as a whole.

The figures come as it was revealed two swine flu centres are to close just weeks after opening because staff have been spending their time playing cards and games.

It was reported that about 1,200 workers were employed to deal with an expected flurry of calls in Farnborough and Watford, but fewer calls were made than predicted.

Latest figures show Shropshire County Primary Care Trust had a higher rate of GP consultations per 100,000 people than the average for England and Wales.

Shropshire had 22.8 GP consultations per 100,000 compared to 19 for England and Wales, according to the report by NHS West Midlands.

It says: "The reported rate of GP consultations per 100,000 population within the West Midlands for the week was 20.3, compared with 31.2 for the previous week.

"The total number of new admissions with swine flu admitted to hospitals in the West Midlands for the period August 20 to August 26, 2009, is 45.

"As of August 26, there were 22 people in hospital."

The report says there has been one further swine-flu related death reported in the region, taking the total number to nine.

Shropshire County PCT currently has nine anti-viral collection points - two in Bridgnorth, two in Ludlow, two in Shrewsbury, one in Oswestry, and two in Whitchurch.

The swine flu vaccination programme starts in the autumn and will initially focus on vaccinating priority groups including children aged over six months.