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24/07/2009
GPs Busy As Swine Flu Numbers Rise
Family doctors and their after-hours services are coming under increasing pressure over swine flu.
The news comes as fresh figures this week indicated that there were three further confirmed cases of swine flu in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health here said that while there have been no deaths related to swine flu here, the new cases brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is 58.
An official statement said that GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness and calls to Out of Hours centres have both increased.
The statement noted that the GP consultation rate is higher than expected for this time of the year.
This modest rise is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK, where 100,000 new cases were reported in just one week.
In some areas of London, for example, single GP practices have recorded more cases of swine flu among their patients that in the whole of Northern Ireland.
Locally, Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he has worked with other UK health departments to develop the National Flu Pandemic Service which launched yesterday in England.
His department stressed the service is only available to patients in England initially "due to the increased pressures on primary care services there".
"The current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland remain relatively low and the present arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all who need it quickly," a statement said.
"Northern Ireland will be able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service if the need arises locally. This situation is being kept under constant review."
As it turns out, that may be just as well as the flu advice website for England 'crashed' on Thursday after it was overwhelmed with around 9.3million 'hits' an hour.
See: Swine Flu Woman Treated In Sweden
(BMcC/JM)
The news comes as fresh figures this week indicated that there were three further confirmed cases of swine flu in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health here said that while there have been no deaths related to swine flu here, the new cases brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is 58.
An official statement said that GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness and calls to Out of Hours centres have both increased.
The statement noted that the GP consultation rate is higher than expected for this time of the year.
This modest rise is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK, where 100,000 new cases were reported in just one week.
In some areas of London, for example, single GP practices have recorded more cases of swine flu among their patients that in the whole of Northern Ireland.
Locally, Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he has worked with other UK health departments to develop the National Flu Pandemic Service which launched yesterday in England.
His department stressed the service is only available to patients in England initially "due to the increased pressures on primary care services there".
"The current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland remain relatively low and the present arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all who need it quickly," a statement said.
"Northern Ireland will be able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service if the need arises locally. This situation is being kept under constant review."
As it turns out, that may be just as well as the flu advice website for England 'crashed' on Thursday after it was overwhelmed with around 9.3million 'hits' an hour.
See: Swine Flu Woman Treated In Sweden
(BMcC/JM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 July 2009
Tamiflu Prescribed For First Time
An antiviral drug is now being dispensed in NI for the first time. As more people are falling ill with suspected swine flu, Tamiflu is going to patients who present with symptoms.
Tamiflu Prescribed For First Time
An antiviral drug is now being dispensed in NI for the first time. As more people are falling ill with suspected swine flu, Tamiflu is going to patients who present with symptoms.
12 January 2011
Extra Flu Jabs Allocated To NI
NI's supply of 'normal' seasonal flu vaccine is being supplemented by stocks of the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine, to meet increased demand, it emerged yesterday. Over 410,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine, which offers protection against swine flu and other circulating viruses such as Influenza B, have already been distributed to GPs and Trusts.
Extra Flu Jabs Allocated To NI
NI's supply of 'normal' seasonal flu vaccine is being supplemented by stocks of the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine, to meet increased demand, it emerged yesterday. Over 410,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine, which offers protection against swine flu and other circulating viruses such as Influenza B, have already been distributed to GPs and Trusts.
29 January 2010
Latest Swine Flu Tragedy Reported
While GP consultation rates for the flu have continued to fall, - down 36% - with rates remaining well below the Northern Ireland threshold for seasonal influenza activity, there has been another swine flu related fatality.
Latest Swine Flu Tragedy Reported
While GP consultation rates for the flu have continued to fall, - down 36% - with rates remaining well below the Northern Ireland threshold for seasonal influenza activity, there has been another swine flu related fatality.
15 January 2010
Flu Pandemic 'Exaggerated'
Northern Ireland's latest swine flu figures are still on the way down.
Flu Pandemic 'Exaggerated'
Northern Ireland's latest swine flu figures are still on the way down.
08 January 2010
Swine Flu Claims Latest NI Victim
There has been another fatality from swine flu with yesterday's Department of Health's weekly flu bulletin revealing a further flu related death. This brings the total to 17, as at 6 January, officially - although two other local people have died outside NI from the virus.
Swine Flu Claims Latest NI Victim
There has been another fatality from swine flu with yesterday's Department of Health's weekly flu bulletin revealing a further flu related death. This brings the total to 17, as at 6 January, officially - although two other local people have died outside NI from the virus.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
