Plymouth has more swine flu drug collection points than most UK cities
PLYMOUTH has been named as having among the country's highest number of Tamiflu collection points.
It is one of 10 NHS primary care trust areas that has more than 30 collection points, while many are left with only one, according to Tory data.
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Conservatives yesterday queried the "huge" variation across England.
While Plymouth has 35 antiviral points, there are 47 PCTs with one, they said.
However NHS Plymouth has said the actual figure is even higher, with 48 points across the city. That include almost all local pharmacies and a 24-hour service at Mount Gould Local Care Centre.
Cornwall has 15 and Devon has 12, the Tories said.
Conservatives said there appeared to be no link between the number of people with swine flu and the number of collection points, or whether a PCT was in a rural area.
Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien said: "These figures are a genuine and fair concern and raise further questions about the Government's handling of swine flu.
"It is understandable that the number of collection points in each primary care trust will vary according to how rural an area is and how many cases of swine flu there are locally.
"However, the number of collection points available in many areas still seems surprisingly low.
"If there are areas with too few collection points, then the Government must take urgent action to open more so that people suffering from swine flu can get the antivirals they need."
The Government has asked for the addresses of the collection points not to be released owing to fears that people may turn up who do not need Tamiflu.
Dr Peter Rudge, Plymouth GP and chair of NHS Plymouth professional executive committee, has the said Plymouth has seen a slow growth in the numbers of patients with symptoms associated with flu in the last few weeks.
He said: "The majority of people are experiencing mild symptoms and are recovering or have recovered well."
Figures released on Friday reveal 460 people were treated for flu-like symptoms in Plymouth in one week – July 16 and 23.
A 51-year-old woman from Swindon is the only person in the South West to have died after testing positive to swine-flu. The cause of death is still being determined.
Contact National Pandemic Flu Service on www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call 08001 513100.
2 Comments
by mike, Plymouth
Tuesday, July 28 2009, 4:59PM
“After listening to the Jeremy Vine Shoe 12.00-14.00 Radio 2.
It would appear that using the new flu call centre is open to abuse with people obtaining the Tammi Flu, for reasons of just in case, not having the real symptons with one person obtaining the drugs and selling them at a car boot sale, Yet again this Government is creating panic and pouring our tax money down the drain, it was obvious this system was going to be abused, Gordan you have lost it.
the greater concern, is they will not have enough intensive care beds when this flu goes bad, will we then return to that 1st and 3rd class way of the early 1900 were it will be a lottery if you live or die, interesting times ahead, when people start dieing in greater numbers.
Millions of pounds wasted every year by people stock piling prescibed drugs that they donot need, its time for a new Government to sort these waste issues out once and all.”
by Dave, Rosyth
Tuesday, July 28 2009, 9:41AM
“Swindon? As in between Bristol and Reading Swindon? As in 'about as much in the South West as Edinburgh' Swindon? Give it a rest......”