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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| GPs flu pandemic workload warning | GPs flu pandemic workload warning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| GP surgeries have been told to prepare for seeing nearly 200 extra patients a week in the event of a flu pandemic. | |
| The Royal College of GPs and British Medical Association guidance said surgeries should "buddy up" with neighbouring ones to share resources. | The Royal College of GPs and British Medical Association guidance said surgeries should "buddy up" with neighbouring ones to share resources. |
| And they said UK GPs may even need to set up separate waiting rooms for flu patients and draft in retired doctors to help with death certification. | And they said UK GPs may even need to set up separate waiting rooms for flu patients and draft in retired doctors to help with death certification. |
| Experts have been predicting a flu pandemic is long overdue. | Experts have been predicting a flu pandemic is long overdue. |
| These are very different from the seasonal flu outbreak that has been seen recently. | These are very different from the seasonal flu outbreak that has been seen recently. |
| Pandemics are global outbreaks and tend to occur three or four times a century, killing millions. | Pandemics are global outbreaks and tend to occur three or four times a century, killing millions. |
| The worst one in the 20th century was in 1918 which caused 250,000 deaths in the UK alone. | The worst one in the 20th century was in 1918 which caused 250,000 deaths in the UK alone. |
| Imminent | Imminent |
| Scientists believe the likely source of a future pandemic could be bird flu mutating into a deadly human strain. | Scientists believe the likely source of a future pandemic could be bird flu mutating into a deadly human strain. |
| If such an event happened, it is estimated up to 700,000 people could die in the UK. | If such an event happened, it is estimated up to 700,000 people could die in the UK. |
| But the guidance produced for GPs warned they would end up treating many more patients. | But the guidance produced for GPs warned they would end up treating many more patients. |
| Up to a half of the population could end up being infected with flu during a pandemic of which a third could need GP care. | Up to a half of the population could end up being infected with flu during a pandemic of which a third could need GP care. |
| Such a scenario would mean more than 14,000 cases per 100,000 of the population - the equivalent of 186 cases for the average three-doctor surgery during the peak of the outbreak. | Such a scenario would mean more than 14,000 cases per 100,000 of the population - the equivalent of 186 cases for the average three-doctor surgery during the peak of the outbreak. |
| During a pandemic the NHS would have to work differently - it's a major health emergency and as such requires a totally different way of helping patients Laurence Buckman, of the British Medical Association | During a pandemic the NHS would have to work differently - it's a major health emergency and as such requires a totally different way of helping patients Laurence Buckman, of the British Medical Association |
| The guidance for GPs comes after the government has produced national plans to minimise the impact of a pandemic. | The guidance for GPs comes after the government has produced national plans to minimise the impact of a pandemic. |
| The government has already started stockpiling antiviral medicines to limit the severity of the illness, while provisions have been made to restrict travel and public gatherings such as football matches. | The government has already started stockpiling antiviral medicines to limit the severity of the illness, while provisions have been made to restrict travel and public gatherings such as football matches. |
| Health staff have also received information about their role in a pandemic, but this guidance adds more detail to that. | Health staff have also received information about their role in a pandemic, but this guidance adds more detail to that. |
| Local health bosses working for primary care trusts will be in overall charge of operations. | Local health bosses working for primary care trusts will be in overall charge of operations. |
| But the guidance acknowledges that during a pandemic GPs will need to be in a position to act straightaway. | But the guidance acknowledges that during a pandemic GPs will need to be in a position to act straightaway. |
| It said provisions should be made with other GPs to share staff and equipment. | It said provisions should be made with other GPs to share staff and equipment. |
| While steps such as having separate waiting rooms for flu patients could minimise the spread of infection. | While steps such as having separate waiting rooms for flu patients could minimise the spread of infection. |
| However, GPs will not be in charge of dispensing the antiviral drugs. | However, GPs will not be in charge of dispensing the antiviral drugs. |
| Instead, these will be held at guarded locations with sufferers having to phone a flu hotline to arrange a nominated friend to pick up the medicine. | Instead, these will be held at guarded locations with sufferers having to phone a flu hotline to arrange a nominated friend to pick up the medicine. |
| Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: "We've seen over Christmas how seasonal winter pressures put strain on the health service but this is in a situation where the system is still operating on a normal basis. | Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: "We've seen over Christmas how seasonal winter pressures put strain on the health service but this is in a situation where the system is still operating on a normal basis. |
| "During a pandemic the NHS would have to work differently - it's a major health emergency and as such requires a totally different way of helping patients." | "During a pandemic the NHS would have to work differently - it's a major health emergency and as such requires a totally different way of helping patients." |