Flu worries spark calls
Shropshire's out-of-hours medical service had its busiest May Bank Holiday for years as fears grow over a possible swine flu pandemic.
Shropshire's out-of-hours medical service had its busiest May Bank Holiday for years as fears grow over a possible swine flu pandemic.
Staff at Shropdoc answered more than 1,000 calls over the weekend compared to a normal rate of about 800.
Medical director Dr Gill Clements said today that about 10 per cent of the calls were from people suffering respiratory illness or seeking information about swine flu and flu-like symptoms.
She said the organisation had anticipated the extra busy weekend and additional doctors and nurses were on duty to give advice.
Dr Clements said Shropdoc was working closely with other Shropshire health organisations and the Heal- th Protection Agency on plans to handle a possible swine flu pandemic.
"We had a busy weekend and hopefully people who called felt they had been given a good service at what is obviously a worrying time for them," she said.
"It will be interesting to see how many more calls we receive now that GP surgeries are open. Most people will speak to their own GP surgeries during the day if they have concerns."
It is not known at this stage how many people from Shropshire may have been tested for swine flu.
But the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust today said the Health Protection Agency has confirmed there are two cases in the West Midlands, both of whom are responding well to treatment at home.
"The trust has comprehensive plans in place to deal with outbreaks of influenza, and to respond in the event of a flu pandemic," it said.
Meanwhile schools in areas hit by the virus were rescheduling GCSEs and A-levels today or asking for consideration for pupils as exam season begins.
The number of people confirmed with the H1N1 virus rose by a third yesterday. Many of those newly diagnosed are said to have caught it through contact with people in the UK who had visited Mexico or the US.
A DoH spokesman said: "There are now 27 confirmed cases in the UK – 23 in England and four in Scotland. The arrangements in place across the UK are continuing to ensure that we are well-placed to deal with this new infection."
By Dave Morris