This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8166444.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Swine flu 'critical care threat' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Swine flu cases could overwhelm intensive care departments, specialists have warned. | Swine flu cases could overwhelm intensive care departments, specialists have warned. |
| Demand for critical care beds could outstrip supply by 130%, a study in the journal Anaesthesia predicts. | Demand for critical care beds could outstrip supply by 130%, a study in the journal Anaesthesia predicts. |
| Hospitals on the South East Coast, in the South West, East of England and East Midlands will be worst hit, the researchers calculated. | Hospitals on the South East Coast, in the South West, East of England and East Midlands will be worst hit, the researchers calculated. |
| It comes as the World Health Organization said there could be 2bn cases globally during the pandemic. | It comes as the World Health Organization said there could be 2bn cases globally during the pandemic. |
| WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said evidence from previous pandemics suggested even a few million cases could be seen relatively early in the pandemic. | WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said evidence from previous pandemics suggested even a few million cases could be seen relatively early in the pandemic. |
| He added that the sharp spike in cases in England - a doubling in the past week to 100,000 new cases - was consistent with what they expected. | He added that the sharp spike in cases in England - a doubling in the past week to 100,000 new cases - was consistent with what they expected. |
| A pregnant woman critically ill with the H1N1 virus has been transferred from Scotland to Sweden to receive specialist treatment. | A pregnant woman critically ill with the H1N1 virus has been transferred from Scotland to Sweden to receive specialist treatment. |
| The 26-year-old was admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, but was moved after suffering an extreme reaction. | The 26-year-old was admitted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, but was moved after suffering an extreme reaction. |
| She is undergoing a procedure called extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially. | She is undergoing a procedure called extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in which her blood will be circulated out of her body and oxygen added artificially. |
| Dr Palle Palmer, from Karolinska University Hospital, said the treatment would buy the patient some time and allow her body to recover. | Dr Palle Palmer, from Karolinska University Hospital, said the treatment would buy the patient some time and allow her body to recover. |
| The National Flu Service launched in England on Thursday is now believed to be coping with demand after initially crashing under 9.3m hits an hour. | The National Flu Service launched in England on Thursday is now believed to be coping with demand after initially crashing under 9.3m hits an hour. |
| Patients have contacted the BBC to say they have had problems getting their Tamiflu supply. | Patients have contacted the BBC to say they have had problems getting their Tamiflu supply. |
| The Conservatives have criticised the National Flu Service, claiming the system is "too little, too late". | The Conservatives have criticised the National Flu Service, claiming the system is "too little, too late". |
| Tory health spokesman Mark Simmonds said the web and telephone service should have been set up earlier when a global pandemic was declared. | Tory health spokesman Mark Simmonds said the web and telephone service should have been set up earlier when a global pandemic was declared. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 'Under review' | 'Under review' |
| The National Flu Service offers sufferers access to drugs on the phone and via the internet without the need to see a GP. | The National Flu Service offers sufferers access to drugs on the phone and via the internet without the need to see a GP. |
| The government said demand was "unprecedented", with 2,600 hits a second. The site crashed shortly after its launch at 1500 BST, but was was back up and running two and half hours later. | The government said demand was "unprecedented", with 2,600 hits a second. The site crashed shortly after its launch at 1500 BST, but was was back up and running two and half hours later. |
| Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said they had increased capacity but expected demand to drop. | Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said they had increased capacity but expected demand to drop. |
| Sir Liam Donaldson: "There will be an element of the worried well" | Sir Liam Donaldson: "There will be an element of the worried well" |
| "Our initial analysis suggests many people visited the site out of curiosity, they started to check the checklist and then abandoned it. | "Our initial analysis suggests many people visited the site out of curiosity, they started to check the checklist and then abandoned it. |
| "We have quadrupled capacity but we're not expecting people to remain curious for very long." | "We have quadrupled capacity but we're not expecting people to remain curious for very long." |
| But the Tories said there was "still far too much confusion about access to diagnosis and treatment for swine flu". | But the Tories said there was "still far too much confusion about access to diagnosis and treatment for swine flu". |
| On Thursday, Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the advice service was "unable to cope with demand" and was "too little, too late". | On Thursday, Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the advice service was "unable to cope with demand" and was "too little, too late". |
| INTERNATIONAL PICTURE The World Health Organization is no longer issuing routine swine flu numbers as countries are collecting data differently making comparisons difficultIn total 160 of 193 countries have reported casesThe UK has the highest number of cases in Europe but 30 countries have now reported casesLatest figures from Australia show more than 16,500 confirmed cases and 46 deathsThe US, Canada, and some countries in South America are also reporting a large number of cases | INTERNATIONAL PICTURE The World Health Organization is no longer issuing routine swine flu numbers as countries are collecting data differently making comparisons difficultIn total 160 of 193 countries have reported casesThe UK has the highest number of cases in Europe but 30 countries have now reported casesLatest figures from Australia show more than 16,500 confirmed cases and 46 deathsThe US, Canada, and some countries in South America are also reporting a large number of cases |
| And on Friday, Mr Simmonds told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We should have had the flu line and the website up earlier. We should have gone live when the WHO [World Health Organisation] said we had pandemic levels. | And on Friday, Mr Simmonds told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We should have had the flu line and the website up earlier. We should have gone live when the WHO [World Health Organisation] said we had pandemic levels. |
| "Indeed, the fact that the website crashed yesterday within two to five minutes of it being up and running, I think, is a function of the fact that it wasn't up earlier. | "Indeed, the fact that the website crashed yesterday within two to five minutes of it being up and running, I think, is a function of the fact that it wasn't up earlier. |
| "Therefore, people couldn't access the information, they couldn't discover themselves whether they had the appropriate symptoms that would give them the opportunity to get Tamiflu. | "Therefore, people couldn't access the information, they couldn't discover themselves whether they had the appropriate symptoms that would give them the opportunity to get Tamiflu. |
| "I think it is a direct result of that." | "I think it is a direct result of that." |
| The latest death toll from swine flu stands at 26. | The latest death toll from swine flu stands at 26. |
| The DoH said two-thirds of the deaths were among people with severe health conditions, such as cancer. | The DoH said two-thirds of the deaths were among people with severe health conditions, such as cancer. |
| THE PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE People in England can phone 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicfluPeople in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should contact NHS Direct or their GPThe network of call centres is being staffed by 1,500 people to start with working from 8am to midnightThey are using a checklist to diagnose swine flu and can issue a voucher number if drugs are requiredThe public is also able to use the website to fill in the checklist and get access to the drugs that waySufferers are still able to go direct to GPs and pregnant women, parents of children under one and those with underlying health conditions should all contact a doctor if swine flu is suspected Q&A: The flu service Send us your comments National Flu Service: your stories | THE PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE People in England can phone 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicfluPeople in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should contact NHS Direct or their GPThe network of call centres is being staffed by 1,500 people to start with working from 8am to midnightThey are using a checklist to diagnose swine flu and can issue a voucher number if drugs are requiredThe public is also able to use the website to fill in the checklist and get access to the drugs that waySufferers are still able to go direct to GPs and pregnant women, parents of children under one and those with underlying health conditions should all contact a doctor if swine flu is suspected Q&A: The flu service Send us your comments National Flu Service: your stories |
| Some 840 patients are in hospital - 63 of which are in critical care - compared to 652 last week. | Some 840 patients are in hospital - 63 of which are in critical care - compared to 652 last week. |
| Dr Ari Ercole, University of Cambridge, an author on the study on critical care bed capacity said provision in paediatric intensive care units would be "quickly exhausted." | Dr Ari Ercole, University of Cambridge, an author on the study on critical care bed capacity said provision in paediatric intensive care units would be "quickly exhausted." |
| He added that there could be a 20% excess demand for ventilators in some areas. | He added that there could be a 20% excess demand for ventilators in some areas. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Health said all NHS organisations had pandemic plans in place. | |
| "As part of our preparations, guidance has been issued which contains information for primary and secondary care services in the UK on managing surge capacity and the prioritisation of services and patients during an influenza widespread outbreak." | |
| Checklist | Checklist |
| To contact the National Flu Service, people in England can call 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu | To contact the National Flu Service, people in England can call 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu |
| 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. |
| People with underlying health problems, pregnant women and parents concerned for children aged under one are still being advised to contact a GP. | People with underlying health problems, pregnant women and parents concerned for children aged under one are still being advised to contact a GP. |
| A checklist is being used by call centre staff and the website to decide whether people have swine flu. | A checklist is being used by call centre staff and the website to decide whether people have swine flu. |
| If the virus is suspected, people will be given a voucher number to give to a flu friend to take to a collection point to pick up anti-flu drugs. | If the virus is suspected, people will be given a voucher number to give to a flu friend to take to a collection point to pick up anti-flu drugs. |
| Will you be using the phone and website service? Do you plan on calling the number to get help later today? Let us know by using the form below. | Will you be using the phone and website service? Do you plan on calling the number to get help later today? Let us know by using the form below. |
| You can send us your video reaction and pictures below. | You can send us your video reaction and pictures below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |