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SWINE  FLU   ADVICE

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:

Please do not ring the surgery for advice or for treatment for uncomplicated cases of suspected swine flu

You should only call the surgery directly if:

  • you have a serious underlying illness
  • you are pregnant
  • you have a sick child under one year old
  • your condition suddenly gets much worse
  • your condition is still getting worse after seven days (or five days for a child)

For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service go to Flu Service - Questions and Answers

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of appetite
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Pain in muscles and joints
  • Headache and chills.

  • Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

Health Protection Advice

  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
  • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
  • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread
    of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people
  • Cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product

Surgery Service

  • When you ring the surgery, please tell the receptionist you have flu-like symptoms and give details of contact telephone numbers
  • The duty doctor will ring you back during the morning, at the end of the morning, early afternoon or during evening surgery.
  • If swine flu is confirmed you will be asked to send a healthy friend or relative to collect a voucher for your antiviral medication which can be collected from Chesterton medical centre.
  • If you have a serious underlying medical condition you may be asked to attend the surgery either at about 12:30 or 5pm. Please come to the side door and ring the bell.

Further information

Further information can be found at

NHS Direct

Health Protection Agency

NHS Choices

Vaccination

Vaccination clinics are now operating 3 or 4 times a week
If you are in a priority group, please ring for an appointment - vaccinations can only be offered in specific clinics and cannot be done during any other appointments
At present vaccine supply is limited and the priority groups will be offered the vaccine first.
If you are aged between 6 months and 64 years of age and belong to one of the following groups you are currently in the priority group
Chronic heart disease
Diabetes
Stroke
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Asthma if you regularly use a preventer inhaler
Other respiratory disease
Pregnancy
.

This page will be updated daily when required.   Last updated 12 11 2009