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| Burnham faces FluLine delay claim | Burnham faces FluLine delay claim |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham will outline plans for a swine flu advice service later amid criticism government in-fighting delayed its launch. | |
| MPs will be updated on the National Pandemic Flu Service in England which is due to go live this week. | MPs will be updated on the National Pandemic Flu Service in England which is due to go live this week. |
| The Liberal Democrats say government departments' in-fighting led to the hotline being launched six months late. | The Liberal Democrats say government departments' in-fighting led to the hotline being launched six months late. |
| Mr Burnham will also seek to clear up confusion over flu advice to pregnant women and parents of young children. | Mr Burnham will also seek to clear up confusion over flu advice to pregnant women and parents of young children. |
| GPs, although warning it needed to be well funded, welcomed the FluLine phone and internet advice. | GPs, although warning it needed to be well funded, welcomed the FluLine phone and internet advice. |
| The government says the aim of the new flu service, which will include a hotline and internet advice, is to help relieve the pressure on frontline NHS staff. | The government says the aim of the new flu service, which will include a hotline and internet advice, is to help relieve the pressure on frontline NHS staff. |
| Other parts of the UK may join the service at a later stage if they feel the need. | Other parts of the UK may join the service at a later stage if they feel the need. |
| But the Lib Dems say documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the Treasury was expected to approve the scheme in June last year, but did not do so until December. | But the Lib Dems say documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the Treasury was expected to approve the scheme in June last year, but did not do so until December. |
| Not only is this putting an additional burden on GPs, but the government is having to use tax-payers' money to cover the cost of setting up an interim service Norman LambLib Dem health spokesman | Not only is this putting an additional burden on GPs, but the government is having to use tax-payers' money to cover the cost of setting up an interim service Norman LambLib Dem health spokesman |
| A number of email exchanges between the Treasury and the Department of Health showed discussions of costs and timings, the party said. | A number of email exchanges between the Treasury and the Department of Health showed discussions of costs and timings, the party said. |
| Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said "Whitehall in-fighting" meant GPs were having to cope with "a large number of calls that should have been directed to a national FluLine". | Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said "Whitehall in-fighting" meant GPs were having to cope with "a large number of calls that should have been directed to a national FluLine". |
| "It is incredibly frustrating that the national flu strategy is inevitably being undermined because this central plank is not in place," he said. | "It is incredibly frustrating that the national flu strategy is inevitably being undermined because this central plank is not in place," he said. |
| "Not only is this putting an additional burden on GPs, but the government is having to use taxpayers' money to cover the cost of setting up an interim service which should not have been necessary in the first place." | "Not only is this putting an additional burden on GPs, but the government is having to use taxpayers' money to cover the cost of setting up an interim service which should not have been necessary in the first place." |
| The government has tried to clear up confusion over mothers-to-be advice | The government has tried to clear up confusion over mothers-to-be advice |
| Responding to the criticism, a Department of Health spokesman said the scale of the flu service project meant it needed to be "rigorously tested". | Responding to the criticism, a Department of Health spokesman said the scale of the flu service project meant it needed to be "rigorously tested". |
| "Launching without this could risk wasting taxpayers' money," he said. | "Launching without this could risk wasting taxpayers' money," he said. |
| "Subject to final checks, the first release of the system will be in place at the end of this week and will further ensure the NHS is well placed to respond." | "Subject to final checks, the first release of the system will be in place at the end of this week and will further ensure the NHS is well placed to respond." |
| The health secretary earlier confirmed the new flu service would be "up and running" soon. | The health secretary earlier confirmed the new flu service would be "up and running" soon. |
| "The flu service will be able to quickly diagnose people with swine flu and give them the opportunity to get anti-virals from local centres, meaning in turn that GPs' time will be freed up enabling them to deal with other illnesses," he said. | "The flu service will be able to quickly diagnose people with swine flu and give them the opportunity to get anti-virals from local centres, meaning in turn that GPs' time will be freed up enabling them to deal with other illnesses," he said. |
| Daily routine 'important' | Daily routine 'important' |
| Meanwhile, the government has been trying to clear up confusion about its advice to pregnant women. | Meanwhile, the government has been trying to clear up confusion about its advice to pregnant women. |
| The NHS UK website suggests expectant mothers should avoid crowds where possible, but a statement from officials on Sunday night said although this could be considered, it was important to carry on with daily routine. | The NHS UK website suggests expectant mothers should avoid crowds where possible, but a statement from officials on Sunday night said although this could be considered, it was important to carry on with daily routine. |
| Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu - 26 in England and three in Scotland. | Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu - 26 in England and three in Scotland. |
| The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus this winter in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000. | The government has warned that the number of deaths from the virus this winter in the UK could reach between 19,000 and 65,000. |
| However, during the 1999 to 2000 winter, seasonal flu deaths reached 21,000 and even during average winters there are normally anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 deaths. | However, during the 1999 to 2000 winter, seasonal flu deaths reached 21,000 and even during average winters there are normally anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 deaths. |