Strike delay over swine flu letters 'risks lives'

Oct 24 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

DOCTORS last night warned postal strikes in the North East could put lives at risk because patients may miss vital swine flu vaccine appointments.

The stark warning came as new figures showed soaring levels of people seeking advice for flu symptoms in the region.

A report by Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson also revealed that 13 schools in the North East have suffered swine flu outbreaks since autumn term began in September – with an outbreak defined as 15% of pupils being absent due to flu-like illnesses.

Gateshead has the highest rates of patients seeking advice for flu symptoms in the country – with 95 people out of every 100,000 having a medical consultation.

North Tyneside is also in a list of top 10 areas in the country of places with high levels of consultations and the region has the most people having completed self-care for flu, such as taking courses of Tamiflu.

From Monday, North East GPs will be receiving deliveries of the vaccine Pandemrix – manufactured in County Durham – and will begin calling in pregnant woman and people with long-term illnesses for appointments.

More than 550,000 people in the at-risk groups in the region will be prioritised as to who is in most need of the jab.

But there are fears the backlog of post following the strikes will affect the swine flu vaccination programme, meaning people could miss their appointments and their vaccinations could be delayed.

Dr Mike Scott, a GP at Newburn Surgery, in Newcastle, said: “There is no doubt the postal strikes could cause problems for us with regards to letting people know they need the vaccination.

“The manufacturers are sending us out batches and then we are getting patients in. I can foresee there will be a problem trying to contact patients with appointments for their jabs as this is generally done by letter.

“It could be a case that we will have to phone hundreds of patients – which means we will not be able to take incoming calls as the phone lines will be busy – and many may not be in when we call or even receive the message we leave.

“I do not want to overdramatise the situation, but the postal strike could put people’s lives at risk. It is an important jab that those in at-risk groups should get. If the appointment messages go astray then there could be problems.

“If those in at-risk groups have not received information of a vaccination appointment by mid-November then they should contact their GP.”