The National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) will be closing effective from 1am Thursday 11 February 2010.
The NPFS has been very successful in easing pressure on primary care services during the busiest times of the swine flu pandemic, allowing GPs to focus on those most ill and ensuring people get access to antivirals when they need them. However, with indicators showing that NHS pressures from swine flu are now less than half what they were 2 weeks prior to the NPFS being switched on, and in consultation with stakeholders, it has been decided to stand down the NPFS.
Both the web and phone service of the NPFS will be discontinued simultaneously. The swine flu information line will continue to operate and will provide recorded information messages, directing people to contact their GPs if appropriate and giving information about swine flu and self-care.
From February 11 onwards, antivirals will only be authorised via health care professionals. When the online and telephone systems are switched off, people with suspected flu should contact their GP, who will authorise antivirals if required. Antivirals will still be available through antiviral collections points as they are currently (a full list of these can be viewed on the CTP website at www.nelctp.nhs.uk/swineflu)
The priority remains to vaccinate those most at risk form the pandemic, as people are still in hospital from swine flu and sadly some have died. Experts advise that it likely that pandemic H1N1 will be the predominant flu virus in the 2010 influenza season.
Dr Tony Hill, director of public health, said: “Our priority remains to vaccinate those most at risk from the pandemic, as people are still in hospital from swine flu and sadly some have died. However, we are now working to manage the transition back to business as usual, given the reduction in the number of cases of swine flu, and the need to make sure our response to the pandemic remains proportionate.”
“I strongly advise that those eligible for the vaccine who have not yet had it, get the jab and protect themselves against further waves of the virus that have been predicted for autumn 2010.”
