Further delays to full flu line service
The full version of the National Pandemic Flu Service may not be available in October as originally planned, despite the chief medical officer predicting that a second wave of swine flu is on its way. Health minister Gillian Merron told the House of Commons in July that the enhanced web and telephone-based NPFS would be available […]
News
QoF frozen as part of swine flu deal
No changes will be made to the Quality and Outcomes Framework next year and some indicators will be dropped in 2011-12 under a deal agreed by the British Medical Association and NHS Employers on the swine flu vaccination programme. The UK-wide agreement means GP practices will be paid £10.50 for every patient given the swine flu […]
News
NI rolls out national flu surveillance
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Business Services Organisation in Northern Ireland is preparing to roll-out a nationwide flu surveillance solution from Apollo Medical Systems. The data extraction query solution, which is in its final stages of development, will be piloted in 12 GP practices before it is rolled out […]
News
Flu Line staff reduced
The Department of Health has reduced the number of call centre staff delivering the National Pandemic Flu Service. The DH said the online and telephone-based flu assessment service had proved “extremely successful” since its launch at the end of July and that it had helped to take the pressure off other parts of the NHS. […]
News
Informatica helps Wales track swine flu
NHS Wales is using software developed by Informatica Systems to monitor pandemic flu on a daily basis. The Primary Care Informatics Programme’s Data Quality Service is being used to track the spread of swine flu and other potential pandemics by collating data from more than 70% of GP practices across Wales. The service incorporates a […]
News
Digital maps show flu pick-up gaps
NHS emergency planners in Bristol and Avon are using advanced digital mapping to develop their swine flu pandemic response strategy. The mapping has been used to identify the appropriate number and location of antiviral collection points needed for patients in the area. The mapping took into account population statistics and travel times to community pharmacies and […]
News
One in three don’t collect anti-virals
More than one in three people have failed to collect their anti-viral medicine after being issued with an authorisation number by the National Pandemic Flu Service, according to latest statistics. Figures published by the Department of Health for the first two weeks of the NPFS show that out of 511,282 people who completed assessment on […]
News
Major chain offers Tamiflu online
Pharmacy giant Lloydspharmacy has begun selling Tamiflu online to patients who do not have swine flu. The pharmacy giant said it was selling the anti-viral medicine "in advance of need" to customers who wanted to make sure they had Tamiflu if they needed it and for people travelling abroad. Packs of 10 x 75mg Tamiflu […]
News
Lords question flu response
Members of the House of Lords have told the government they have “significant concerns” about the delay in the launch of the full National Pandemic Flu Service, which is not due to be ready until 1 October. In a report on pandemic flu, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee said the government appeared […]
News
Trafford buys flu intelligence from 21c
Trafford Primary Care Trust has implemented Pandemic Manager from business intelligence specialists 21c to equip itself in the event of the failure of the national flu response system. The PCT said it could use the software to help run its own local telephone triage systems as a contingency model if the National Pandemic Flu Service became […]
News