UK docs practices could not cope with flu pandemic

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Doctors say their practices could not cope with flu pandemic

By Siobhan

Only a quarter of GPs believe their practice could cope with extra

demands from patients during a flu pandemic.

Half of GPs also believe the Government has failed to give them enough

information on what to do if a flu pandemic strikes.

GP Nigel Higson, who is based at the Goodwood Court Medical Centre in

Hove, said: " It is vital the Department of Health provides all GPs

with information that is rapid, trustworthy and appropriate. "

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The survey of 310 UK family doctors was carried out by GP newspaper.

It found 80 per cent of GPs did not have access to antiviral drugs,

which can cut the length of flu illness, with some unsure about what

to do or who would be eligible for them.

The findings come as GPs are being advised to prescribe the anti-flu

drug Tamiflu to fight high levels of seasonal flu, according to the

newspaper.

Flu levels have exceeded the antiviral threshold of 30 cases per

100,000 across the country.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT)

said: " The city's pandemic flu group has GP representation, who

feedback their comments, concerns and ideas about issues such as

capacity planning.

" The Department of Health has recently published updated pandemic flu

guidance and we are now in the process of updating our pandemic flu plans.

" Within our emergency planning we will be taking into account GP

capacity issues.

" We have worked with GPs to support them and ensure that they are

developing robust business continuity arrangements. Practices are

making good progress with their business continuity plans. "

Practices would not have a stockpile of antivirals within their

surgeries during the normal flu season, unlike the normal flu vaccine.

Instead they would write a prescription and the patient would collect

their treatment from their local pharmacy.

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And there is this comment:

Posted by: Grim Reaper, Round the Corner on 1:17pm Thu 24 Jan 08

Instead of getting the drugs and going home people will now traipse

off to the pharmacy spreading flu along the way even more...This is a

disaster that will happen and we are, with a little proper thought,

perfectly able to limit the damage.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.1991548.0.doctors_say_the\

ir_practices_could_not_cope_with_.php