Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Well the media will always find the negative angle, the flu service was a good idea because it hs have relieved the pressure on the health services and local GP's surgeries, it stopped NHS direct being swamped with calls, and in theory it may have stopped the spread by both offering advice and stopping people leaving their house.

People may lie, but most probably will not, and it saves a trip to the doctor. Imagine if a doctor had to examine everyone with suspected swine flu! That would certainly be the cause of complaints about ineffectiveness and accusations of not being prepared.

In the end the Flu Service has proven well placed to deal with large numbers of Swine Flu victims and the cost was a theoritcal loss of some tamiflu to people who lied. So not perfect but was there a better alternative?

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Yeah i am all for the call centre offering advice and suchlike just not sending out any medication more so to just anyone that is in this country at a given time. We are paying for this tamiflu and although i don't know for sure i would hazard a guess it is expensive to buy in other countries so this system we have right now is ripe for some organised manipulation.

We have the media to blame for a lot of the hysteria surrounding swine flu and most people that get it will have slightly worse symptoms then seasonal flu but it won't be a big deal according to most of the doctors and specialists i have seen on the tv so do we really need to be dishing out anti virals left and right.

I am sure the system could be streamlined so that those people with underlying problems could be prioritised by their local surgerys if they feel they have it involving a home visit from a gp to confirm diagnosis and prescption of tamiflu. That wouldn't have to involve much risk to the gp as didn't the government make a big thing about the masks and other things they had stockpiled to issue to health care staff.

This whole thing for me is more of the labour policy of "there's no problem you can't make better by throwing money at it" and i have big reservations about that and the pandering that is going on to certain people who if they see plauge on the tele will have it not long after. I think we need to get this in perspective stop getting alarmed by some of the media rubbish and wait and see how it affects each and everyone of us if and when we get it, and then make a decision on what to do rather then implement these large expensive programs that right now have questionable benefit.

I speak as someone in a high risk group if i get swine flu and even knowing that i can't help feeling that the reaction is completely ott.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Hi, Bit of an update on myself.
Had a stinking cold and a bloody awful chest 4 weeks ago or so, braved it out until last Tuesday and `phoned the doctors on weds morning.
Was seen by the doctor 20 mins later in isolation in the staff coffee room, given 1500 mgms of Amoxicillin for the week.
Went back on Tuesday of this week and was given another weeks worth of Amoxicillin and a weeks worth of Erythromycin. So, I`m taking 3500 mgms of antibiotics a day now for the next week and i`ve been told that i probably had swine flu to start with but, because i was not treated for it, its now turned into Pneumonia! Bloody smart, feel better than i did a week ago but can`t afford to take time off of work as i don`t get paid for sick leave.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

What about 10,000s people dying daily for famine, cholera, malaria....

We are used for that so it seems no problem for us...but i feel something is wrong with people so nervous from swine flu, mad cows and so blind concerning the real problems.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Probably because we tend to focus on our own neighbourhood/country, and there are not 10s of thousands dying daily in the UK from those things.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Yep if it isn't in front of us we don't see it the old "out of sight out of mind" sort of thing.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Yes, i agree with you but i cannot accept this fact as a good reason. But ok, investing into swine vaccine is much better investment than for example investing in to nuclear weapons....

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

No one said it's a good reason, but it is the reason. Human Nature to be able to distance yourself from suffering far away, people who are not your concern. If you felt the depth of pain and worry you would feel if this was happening next door then imagine how unbearable your life would be.

Logically how can anyone go on when people are literally dying from a lack of food and water? Surely the correct response is for all of us to drop what we doing and go help. We don't though.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Just when you think that maybe we aren't all doomed and going to die in a horrible coughing, snottery mess things change.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...89-people.html

Eeek!

More responsible and well researched journalism from the Daily Mail.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

My mum, having breast cancer has been sent a letter about the SF vaccine, and telling her to get all people in her house vaccinated.

So I'm gonna get it.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

I had mine done yesterday and apart from being a bit sore it was a doddle, get it done if you have the option.;)

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Really cannot be bothered anymore with these super germ stories if i am going to die i will die end of not going to waste a minute of my time worrying what is going to do me in.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

I couldn't agree more Rizzy.... When your time's up, your time's up.

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

So if modern medicine can save your life you would rather die ???

Re: Pandemic (Swine) Flu
 

Yes.