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Flu infects 100,000 in past week Flu infects 100,000 in past week
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The number of new cases of swine flu in the past week has reached an estimated 100,000 and is mainly affecting the under 14s, the government says. The number of new swine flu infections in England has doubled in the past week, the government says.
The figure for England is double the total of the previous week and comes as the Department of Health prepares to launch the National Flu Service. There were an estimated 100,000 new cases with the under 14s the worst hit.
The hotline and website service will give flu sufferers access to drugs without needing to consult a GP. It comes as the National Flu Service is launched, offering sufferers access to drugs on the phone and via the internet without the need to see a GP.
It has been designed to relieve the pressure on the health service. The death toll stands at 26 - the same as last week - but the Department of Health has reclassified the way it counts mortality.
Pregnant women, people with health conditions and the under-ones will still all be referred to GPs. While there has been a number of swine flu deaths in the past seven days, some of last week's total has been discounted after an investigation by the government suggested swine flu had not contributed to their death.
The Department of Health has accepted that the service could be abused by people giving the answers they believe will give them access to anti-flu drugs. No breakdown of when and where the people died is being given.
But Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has said it is a price worth paying to help the NHS cope with its "biggest challenge in a generation". THE PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE To contact the flu service, call 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicfluThe flu service has always been part of the government's contingency plans, although it had been delayed and was not expected until the autumnThe version that goes live will be staffed by 1,500 call centre staffThey will use a checklist to diagnose whether the person calling has swine flu and will be able to give them a voucher number to get anti-viral drugs if they are believed to be infectedThe public will also be able to use a website to fill in the checklist as well and get access to the voucher number that wayPeople will still be able to go direct to GPs and the under ones and those with underlying health conditions should still contact a doctor if swine flu is suspected class="" href="/2/hi/health/8158864.stm">Q&A: The flu service class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6768">Send us your comments
THE PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE The flu service has always been part of the government's contingency plans, although it had been delayed and was not expected until the autumnThe version that goes live will be staffed by 1,500 call centre staffThey will use a checklist to diagnose whether the person calling has swine flu and will be able to give them a voucher number to get anti-viral drugs if they are believed to be infectedThe public will also be able to use a website to fill in the checklist as well and get access to the voucher number that wayPeople will still be able to go direct to GPs and the under ones and those with underlying health conditions should still contact a doctor if swine flu is suspected class="" href="/2/hi/health/8158864.stm">Q&A: The flu service class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6768">Send us your comments There have been four deaths in Scotland, but they are not comparable to the English figures as officials there have not used the same criteria.
He told the BBC this week that the flu service might just be the first step in how the health service responds to a pandemic which has already claimed more than 700 lives across the world. The Department of Health analysis suggested two-thirds of the deaths they had full data on were among people with severe health conditions, such as cancer.
The death toll in the UK stands at 31, but that is likely to climb when the Department of Health in England releases its weekly update on Thursday. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson also said there was may be "a little bit of possible good news".
The 100,000 figure for new cases is in line with what experts expected. Last week there were an estimated 55,000 new cases. While new cases have increased from 55,000 to an estimated 100,000 - the number of people in hospital has not risen accordingly.
There are 840 patients currently in hospital, 63 of whom are in intensive care. Some 840 patients are in hospital - 63 of which are in critical care - compared to 652 last week.
Under contingency plans, non-emergency operations can be cancelled, while doctors can be moved around the health service to help flu hotspots cope. Sir Liam added: "There is no evidence to suggest it is becoming more virulent. Most people with no underlying conditions will get over the flu perfectly well."
The flu service does have some security checks in place. Those who are diagnosed with swine flu are given a voucher number for a flu friend to collect their drugs from a collection point. The number of people contacting GPs over flu has also doubled with 155 consultations per 100,000.
Each person has their own unique number so the service will know if an individual is trying to get more than one dose of an anti-viral drug. But the figure is well short of the peak during the 1968-70 pandemic when 1,200 people per 100,000 were asking for help.
The flu friend will also have to present ID for the patient when they collect the drug. Checklist
It will be staffed by 1,500 call handlers to start with, although there is already capacity for 2,000 people in the network of call centres. Sir Liam also said the pressure on the health service - every area in England is now experiencing "exceptional" demand - should be relieved by the flu service which has not gone live.
Demand It is the first time the public has been given access to prescription drugs in such as way.
The free-phone number will only be operational from 8am until midnight, but officials stressed that it will expand to meet the requirements of the pandemic. Although people with underlying health problems, pregnant women and the under ones are still being advised to contact a GP.
Gordon Brown: "We know that to be treated in the first 24 or 48 hours makes a real difference" FLU HOTSPOTS Tower Hamlets - 792 GP flu consultations per 100,000Islington - 488Greenwich - 441Leicester - 440Telford and Wrekin - 430Lewisham - 424Hackney - 419Barking and Dagenham - 415South Tyneside - 413Redbridge - 410
The launch of the service was announced last week after GPs and NHS Direct reported a dramatic rise in calls and consultations. A checklist will be used by call centre staff and the website to decide whether people have swine flu.
Every region of England is now seeing "exceptional" levels of activity with the exception of Yorkshire and the Humber. It the virus is suspected, they will be given a voucher number to give to a flu friend to take to a collection point to pick up anti-flu drugs.
And a poll of 1,500 NHS staff by the Health Service Journal and Nursing Times showed 14% did not think their organisation was coping successfully with the pressure.
The flu service is not covering the rest of the UK as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have all experienced much less demand.The flu service is not covering the rest of the UK as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have all experienced much less demand.
They will be able to plug into it if and when they need to, although experts have said Scotland appears to be over the worst of this phase. They will be able to plug into it they need to, although experts have said Scotland appears to be over the worst of this phase with 1,200 new cases reported in the past week.
Dr Richard Vautrey, of the British Medical Association, which has helped to design the checklist being used by the flu service, said: "What we have to remember is that this is a unique situation.Dr Richard Vautrey, of the British Medical Association, which has helped to design the checklist being used by the flu service, said: "What we have to remember is that this is a unique situation.
"Some GP practices are receiving hundreds of calls a day and we have to prioritise so we can see the most seriously ill."Some GP practices are receiving hundreds of calls a day and we have to prioritise so we can see the most seriously ill.
"It has been designed by doctors to pick up problems that need to be seen by someone with a medical background."It has been designed by doctors to pick up problems that need to be seen by someone with a medical background.
"So as long as the call handlers get the correct training we can be confident in this service.""So as long as the call handlers get the correct training we can be confident in this service."
The hotline number is 08001513100 and website address www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu To contact the National Flu Service, call 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
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