Swine Flu
August 19, 2009
Posted by:Caroline Klage
In an effort to tackle the swine flu pandemic, the government has set up a telephone and web-based helpline service which is designed to relieve pressures on the NHS and GPs. In addition, GP surgeries and out of hours surgeries are encouraging patients to stay away from surgeries to reduce the risk of infection and instead to telephone surgeries for a diagnosis.
Diagnosing swine flu over the telephone or internet without proper consultation and examination is incredibly risky , particularly bearing in mind that the majority of the staff manning the pandemic swine flu helpline have no formal medical training. Serious conditions such as meningitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, measles and pneumonia may be overlooked and people with these conditions might be wrongly diagnosed as suffering from swine flu with potentially disastrous consequences.
Tragically, 2 year old Georgia Keeling died in hospital in Norfolk on Tuesday, 11th August 2009. Her family had consulted with the pandemic flu helpline and NHS Direct. Swine flu was diagnosed and Tamiflu prescribed but it is now suspected that Georgia was in fact suffering from meningitis which sadly went undetected. It is possible that early diagnosis of meningitis and the appropriate treatment may have saved Georgia's life.