Pandemic (Swine) Flu - Page 44

21-07-2009, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

ok guys I'm going to be working in the swine flu callcentre from thursday, any information I get about it I'm authorised to pass on so I'll keep you all treated.

good to have someone on the inside

Pierre · 21-07-2009, 13:47

Yes I can see the converstaion going something like:

A: I think I have swine flu

B: what are your symptoms?

A: Like the flu.

B: Could you be more specific I have a check card here:

Any from:

fever that comes on quickly (38-40C; 100-104F),
sweating and feeling feverish,
general muscle aches and pains,
a feeling of general tiredness,
dry, chesty cough,
sneezing,
running or blocked nose, and
difficulty sleeping.

Will do.

A: Yes, I got most of them.

B: ooh you might have flu then.

A: What should I do?

B: Stay at home, drink plenty of water, stay warm, I'll give you a reference number and your "flu friend" can nip down to the pharmacy and get you some Tamiflu.

There you go, piece of the preverbial.

Then that goes down on record as a confirmed case of swine flu, when it's more than likely a bad cold, or seasonal flu and the numbers for the "pandemic" in the country grow exponentially making it look like the country is on the brink of collapse.

When all that needed is a warm bed and a packet of Beechams.

If you've got children fair enough, if you're elderly fair enough - get some tamiflu or a flu jab but will the rest of the country stop flapping and get on with it.

21-07-2009, 13:49

The thing is if you do not have a fever you do not have swine flu thats the one thing out of all the symptoms thats constant

Seasonal flu is also rare this time of year so there will not be many cases

Tamiflu is a preventative as well as a symptom stopper but they are not going to give anyoen more than 1 dose I imagine so anyone calling with a cold and taking Tamiflu are gonna be doing theirselves no favours. As a preventative its untested but you woudl need enough tabs for the rest of the year at least so is not worth scamming some pills

STONEISLAND · 21-07-2009, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

ok guys I'm going to be working in the swine flu callcentre from thursday, any information I get about it I'm authorised to pass on so I'll keep you all treated.

I have a good question.

What if my Son gets it, my employer has said that I can have a couple of days of work to â€˜find alternative arrangementsâ€™ (get someone to look after him)

Now surely no one will want to look after him if he gets Swine flu? Surely I cannot go into work myself if my son has it Iâ€™d be putting others at risk! Surely thatâ€™s a bad idea? The problem is youâ€™re only aloud 1 week maternity leave it will take over a week him to get over it!!!!!

Not that my son has it.

Pierre · 21-07-2009, 14:00

The Joy's of parenthood.

Your kid, your problem.

You could always ask for unpaid leave.

STONEISLAND · 21-07-2009, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

The Joy's of parenthood.

Your kid, your problem.

You could always ask for unpaid leave.

Unpaid leave?

Not a problem I will send him back to nursery and I will go into work and hope we donâ€™t spread it.

fireman328 · 21-07-2009, 14:30

The good news is, us oldies have better chance of surviving

Russ · 21-07-2009, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

Your kid, your problem.

Fortunately we'll be more sympathetic than that.

What will happen is if you're in England or are registered with a GP in England you can call us if you or someone you're looking after has symptoms.

We'll ask a series of questions and if it leads us to suspect you have swine flu we'll designate you a special code which you must write down or remember as you will not be given another under any circumstances. Take that code (or preferably get someone to take it for you) along to a designated treatment point and you'll be given antiviral medicine.

Pierre · 21-07-2009, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

Fortunately we'll be more sympathetic than that.

What will happen is if you're in England or are registered with a GP in England you can call us if you or someone you're looking after has symptoms.

We'll ask a series of questions and if it leads us to suspect you have swine flu we'll designate you a special code which you must write down or remember as you will not be given another under any circumstances. Take that code (or preferably get someone to take it for you) along to a designated treatment point and you'll be given antiviral medicine.

Which is what I said in my earlier post:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34838160-post649.html

which will result in dishing out Tamiflu to anyone with a bad cold.

Wont help with his kiddy situation either.

Russ · 21-07-2009, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

Which is what I said in my earlier post:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34838160-post649.html

which will result in dishing out Tamiflu to anyone with a bad cold.

Wont help with his kiddy situation either.

No, we won't be 'dishing out Tamiflu to anyone with a bad cold'. There are ways of telling the difference and it won't be Tamiflu.

Pierre · 21-07-2009, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

No, we won't be 'dishing out Tamiflu to anyone with a bad cold'. There are ways of telling the difference and it won't be Tamiflu.

Fair enough.

But, and I'm not having a go at you or anyone who's working on this hotline, it's not your fault, you're providing a service - so hats off.

How can anyone, especially (and I assume) someone not from a medical background accurately give a diagnosis, especially a diagnosis over the phone.

Also if you suspect they have "a" flu. Will you automatically prescribe the anti-viral? or will you based on their age and fitness tell them to just to ride it out, as millions do each year?

Russ · 21-07-2009, 15:40

Ok there are things I can't go in to in case someone takes the information and 'modifies' their answers so that they can get the treatment when in fact all they have is a cold.

We're not doctors, we have no medical training however we'll be following a script which has been written by qualified medical professionals. Most answers will be either yes or no and some are pretty specific so we'll get a very good idea of what illness they've got.

It's also important to stress we won't be 'prescribing' anything in the ways doctors do. It's more a case of if their symptoms qualify them for the antiviral medicine.

Jules · 21-07-2009, 16:18

All three of us in my house are classed as "high risk" and as such will be able to have the jab as soon as it comes in to the docs, the thing is I am a little worried because it has been rushed through and as such just how safe is it? Damned if you do damned if you don't lol

Caspar · 21-07-2009, 17:48

I've come down with something over the last few days...headache...cloudy head, nervous system VERY sensitive, achy joints, runny/blocked nose, dodgy sensistive to noise ear drums...sore throat, chesty cough.

I don't have a fever

So...I mustn't have swine flu

Must be just a cold!

superbiatch · 21-07-2009, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

No, we won't be 'dishing out Tamiflu to anyone with a bad cold'. There are ways of telling the difference and it won't be Tamiflu.

Its also quite possible that if you or someone else needs tamiflu, whoever attends the anti-viral clinic will be asked to provide ID. I know this is happening in my area and is being implmented in others. They are very strict on this, no ID, no tamiflu.

Good luck with the job Russ