Pencoed Medical Centre

We would like to highlight the following points:

Swine flu, for the majority of cases is a relatively mild disease and most patients should recover without need to contact the surgery. Simply having the flu is not a reason to contact the surgery provided you are not seriously unwell and do not belong to a high risk group.

Common queries and answers:

Do I have swine flu?

Your first action should be to contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice.

Suspect swine flu if:

• Sudden onset fever (>38°) and TWO or more of the following:

• Cough, Sore throat, Runny nose, Limb/joint pain, Headache. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not unique to the flu and many patients with simple viral infections may have very similar symptoms.

What should I do if I have the symptoms of flu?

Provided you do not belong to one of the high risk groups (below), you should stay at home until you are well. Take paracetamol regularly and plenty of fluids. Do not attempt to go into work or "soldier on". It is foolish to go to work with the flu and you will only spread the virus amongst your colleagues. If you do not belong to a high risk group, you will not be given Tamiflu and will be treated with paracetamol and fluids alone. Unless you are seriously unwell and in need of urgent medical attention, you should not need to contact the surgery.

I've had contact with somebody who has swine flu

Wait and see. We are not giving Tamiflu to patients who do not have symptoms and in any case, Tamiflu will only be given to high risk patients who currently have symptoms of flu (as detailed above)

Who is eligible for tamiflu?

Only patients who belong to the following "High risk" groups will be offered Tamiflu:

• <5yrs old

• >65 yrs old

• Chronic lung, heart, kidney or neurological disease

• Chemotherapy, or drugs affecting immune system (steroids, Methotrexate, azathioprine etc)

• Pregnant women

• Patients who’ve been treated for asthma within past 3 years

• “Morbidly obese” patients (BMI > 40). i.e. patients who are exceptionally overweight

Tamiflu is only given if you have symptoms of swine flu as defined above. It is not being given any more if you've simply had contact with somebody who may have had swine flu. Tamiflu can be started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. At present, if you need Tamiflu, doctors are deciding based on the information given over the phone. If the Doctor decides that you have swine flu and belong to a high risk group you will be issued with a prescription. You should send a SYMPTOM FREE representative to collect the prescription from the surgery.

How is it spread?

This is a very important consideration. Not only is it desirable to avoid influenza in the first place, but if you have it, you have a duty not to pass it on to others! Bear in mind that if you pass it on to healthcare professionals - who are no more immune to it than anyone else - then there will be fewer doctors and nurses available to help out! Never has the phrase "coughs and sneezes spread diseases" been more important!

• Cover your mouth with a tissue if you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue after use and wash your hands.

• Frequent handwashing

• Isolation if you have the symptoms - there is nothing "stoic" about trying to go to work if you have the symptoms of the flu - you will only pass it on to others

How are the doctors dealing with swine flu?

We are dealing with swine flu in the following ways:

Receptionists have been issued with guidelines to identify which patients have the symptoms of swine flu. If a patient has symptoms of swine flu, they do not belong to a high risk group and they are not seriously unwell, they will be advised to stay at home and take plenty of paracetamol and fluids until they are better.

Useful websites:

Health Protection Agency - Swine flu

BBC News - Swine flu