Swine flu cost NHS more than £275,000 (From Oxford Mail)

Swine flu cost NHS more than £275,000

8:09pm Monday 15th February 2010 in

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SWINE flu has cost the NHS in Oxfordshire more than £275,000 since the pandemic began in May, with almost 24,000 doses of Tamiflu issued and 45,000 people immunised.

NHS Oxfordshire, the county’s primary care trust, also spent money on face masks, gloves and setting up antiviral collection points (ACPs).

The figures were released by the trust in the wake of the Government’s decision to close the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS).

The NPFS was launched to ease pressure on primary care providers and GPs, but despite its closure NHS Oxfordshire has urged people who are eligible for the vaccine to take it.

A spokesman said: “The Chief Medical Officer has stressed the importance of being vaccinated to prevent complications, hospital admissions and death in potential future outbreaks of the disease, as swine flu is likely to be the predominant influenza virus during the 2010 flu season.”

Vaccination was offered to people considered to be in a high risk category, such as those over 65, with long-term illnesses or underlying health problems.