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| GPs fear illness could be missed | GPs fear illness could be missed |
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| Many GPs are concerned patients with serious health problems could be missed if they seek advice from the National Flu Pandemic Service. | Many GPs are concerned patients with serious health problems could be missed if they seek advice from the National Flu Pandemic Service. |
| A poll for GP magazine found nearly 90% of family doctors fear conditions such as tonsilitis, bronchitis and meningitis may be overlooked. | A poll for GP magazine found nearly 90% of family doctors fear conditions such as tonsilitis, bronchitis and meningitis may be overlooked. |
| However, the Department of Health said the new phone and web-based service had been set up after liaison with doctors. | However, the Department of Health said the new phone and web-based service had been set up after liaison with doctors. |
| Doctors' leaders said the poll was small, but reflected real concerns. | Doctors' leaders said the poll was small, but reflected real concerns. |
| The symptoms are so vague and wide ranging, swine flu can masquerade as a vast array of other diseases GP responding to the poll | The symptoms are so vague and wide ranging, swine flu can masquerade as a vast array of other diseases GP responding to the poll |
| Since the National Pandemic Flu Service was launched last month, it has prescribed the anti-viral drug tamiflu to 150,000 people. | Since the National Pandemic Flu Service was launched last month, it has prescribed the anti-viral drug tamiflu to 150,000 people. |
| But concerns have been raised that the phone lines are staffed by people with no medical training, working from a check list. | But concerns have been raised that the phone lines are staffed by people with no medical training, working from a check list. |
| In the survey of 251 GPs, 87% said it was possible that diagnosing swine flu over the phone could mean that other diseases may be missed. | In the survey of 251 GPs, 87% said it was possible that diagnosing swine flu over the phone could mean that other diseases may be missed. |
| Just 3% were confident that this would not happen. | Just 3% were confident that this would not happen. |
| The poll comes after it was revealed that a 13-year-old boy from Gloucestershire became seriously ill with a kidney infection after being misdiagnosed with swine flu. | The poll comes after it was revealed that a 13-year-old boy from Gloucestershire became seriously ill with a kidney infection after being misdiagnosed with swine flu. |
| Responding to the poll, one GP said: "The symptoms are so vague and wide ranging, swine flu can masquerade as a vast array of other diseases." | Responding to the poll, one GP said: "The symptoms are so vague and wide ranging, swine flu can masquerade as a vast array of other diseases." |
| Another doctor said it was "blindingly obvious that a telephone diagnosis will very rarely, but very significantly, miss an alternative diagnosis which could lead to severe morbidity or mortality". | Another doctor said it was "blindingly obvious that a telephone diagnosis will very rarely, but very significantly, miss an alternative diagnosis which could lead to severe morbidity or mortality". |
| Safety top priority | Safety top priority |
| Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, accepted that the poll was an accurate reflection of doctors' concerns. | Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, accepted that the poll was an accurate reflection of doctors' concerns. |
| He admitted there would be a few patients who should be going straight to their GP, rather than contacting the flu service. | He admitted there would be a few patients who should be going straight to their GP, rather than contacting the flu service. |
| But he said patient safety had been the top priority when the checklists for the new service were being drawn up. | But he said patient safety had been the top priority when the checklists for the new service were being drawn up. |
| He also stressed that the service was not designed to give a diagnosis, but to enable patients suspected of having swine flu to get speedy access to anti-viral drugs. | He also stressed that the service was not designed to give a diagnosis, but to enable patients suspected of having swine flu to get speedy access to anti-viral drugs. |
| Professor Field said: "The National Pandemic Flu Service has taken a lot of pressure off GPs previously swamped by calls from worried patients. | Professor Field said: "The National Pandemic Flu Service has taken a lot of pressure off GPs previously swamped by calls from worried patients. |
| "This has freed up a lot more of GPs' time to concentrate on patients whose conditions are worsening or have developed complications as well as those people continuing to access their GP for advice and treatment for other conditions." | "This has freed up a lot more of GPs' time to concentrate on patients whose conditions are worsening or have developed complications as well as those people continuing to access their GP for advice and treatment for other conditions." |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said the questions asked by the National Pandemic Flu Service had been drawn up following close collaboration with leading doctors. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said the questions asked by the National Pandemic Flu Service had been drawn up following close collaboration with leading doctors. |
| They included questions specifically designed to determine whether the patient might have other conditions, the symptoms of which appear similar to those caused by swine flu. | They included questions specifically designed to determine whether the patient might have other conditions, the symptoms of which appear similar to those caused by swine flu. |
| "People can still speak to their GP if they are concerned. | "People can still speak to their GP if they are concerned. |
| "In fact, it is important to stress that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and parents with children under the age of one should speak to their GP if they have symptoms." | "In fact, it is important to stress that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and parents with children under the age of one should speak to their GP if they have symptoms." |
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