The bigger picture

Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, produces a weekly report on the pandemic situation. His latest summary of the current national picture includes:- Rates of GP consultations for influenza-like illness continue to increase.

The biggest rise continues to be amongst school-age children. There has been a substantial rise in hospitalisations, including critical care The continued increase in swine flu activity is consistent with the early stages of a second wave.

No official announcement has been made as to the exact start date for the UK vaccination programme.

Antivirals
Between 18 September and 24 September a total of 989 antivirals were distributed in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. In the previous week it was 720.

Seasonal flu
We are in the period when the risk of catching so-called seasonal flu increases. It is caused by a different virus from swine flu. There is an immunisation programme each year for those at risk of secondary conditions from seasonal flu, and GPs contact those who are already known to be eligible for the jab.

For more information on seasonal flu and its own at-risk groups, click on this link to the recent Department of Health leaflet – “Seasonal Flu – why you should have the vaccination”.

You will need Acrobat Reader to view the pdf file. If, after reading it, you think you should now be eligible for the seasonal flu jab, contact your GP.

Flu-like symptoms
Leicester: Between 21 September and 27 September, GP consultations for influenza-like illness were at the rate of 32 per 100,000 across Leicester City. This is an increase from the previous week where the rate was 23.

Leicestershire & Rutland: In the same period consultations for influenza-like illness were at the rate of 24 per 100,000 across Leicestershire County and Rutland. This is an increase from the previous week where the rate was 16. The national average across England and Wales is currently 22.2.

These figures are used as a rough indicator of the scale of flu infections in an area, but it must be born in mind that the symptoms may not be caused by swine flu. Nationally there was a 45% increase in such flu-like activity towards the end of September. However, the increase is not universal.

In the same period 115 NHS areas saw an increase, but 27 NHS areas saw a decrease, and three saw no change.

Exercise Peak Practice – ensuring readiness
“Exercise Peak Practice was an opportunity for health and social care organisations across the East Midlands to discuss and test their plans for a second wave of swine flu,” said Dr Tim Davies, speaking on behalf of the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

“The day included looking at a number of scenarios we have prepared for, including providing services when we may have high levels of staff absence due to swine flu and how to keep the public informed. This was one of a series of events to test preparedness and we continue to be confident our plans for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are robust.”

The exercise was aimed at senior managers and run by NHS East Midlands.
Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience attended as did representatives from NHS Leicester City and NHS Leicestershire and Rutland – including both chief executives. The exercise is part of an on-going training and development programme, funded by the Department of Health and designed and led by the Health Protection Agency.

The key messages remain …
If you think you have swine flu, stay at home and check your condition using the National Pandemic Flu Service. They assess your symptoms and, if required, explain how to collect medication. For an assessment go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or telephone 0800 15 13 100 or Minicom 0800 15 13 200.

“Call your GP directly if you have a serious underlying illness, or if you are pregnant or have a sick child under one. Also call your doctor if your condition suddenly gets much worse or symptoms last more than a week. Please do not visit your GP, pharmacist, A&E, the Urgent Care Centre or walk-in centres.

You risk spreading the illness to others and causing delays for patients needing more urgent medical care.”

Those with diabetes, heart, circulation and lung diseases are more at risk of developing secondary infections in the event of catching flu.

Key messages include warnings to ask people in these categories to contact their GP, if they suspect flu symptoms. Normally they are asked to take antivirals as soon as possible. The same warning applies to patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years, pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, and children under five.

Published by NHS Leicester City on behalf of our public sector partners in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

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