The purpose of this service

This service will assess the patient’s symptoms and, if required, provide an authorisation number, which can be used to collect antivirals from a local Antiviral Collection Point.

This service is only for people with high temperature and other symptoms which are likely to be caused by swine flu.

You can get more information about flu symptoms from www.nhs.uk and the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513.

If you have severe symptoms which are not like flu you should contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 in England, NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24 in Scotland or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.

What you will need to use this service

To use this service you will need the following information about the patient:

* Their date of birth
* Their current symptoms
* Their history of any serious medical conditions
* Their home address including postcode

You will also need a pen and paper to write down information we give you.

If you do not have all of these, please go and get them before carrying on with the service.

I confirm that I am:

* currently located in the UK;
* concerned that I may be suffering from flu; or
* acting on behalf of someone who may be suffering from flu.

Please do not proceed beyond this point unless you comply with the above. Misuse of this service could lead to prosecution.

Thank you.

Before we begin the assessment for flu, we need to check if the patient needs an emergency ambulance.

Does the patient have any of the following symptoms:

* Are they unresponsive or unconscious, floppy, limp, or impossible or difficult to wake?
* Do they have a new breathing problem that is so severe that they are unable to finish a sentence? Or if they are a child under 16, are they breathing irregularly, grunting, or is their chest collapsing in as they breathe?
* Do they feel that their throat is closing off and they are unable to swallow saliva or drooling excessively?
* Does their skin feel icy cold and wet to touch or is there a change in colour – blue or greyness – particularly around the lips, mouth, fingers or toes?
* Are they having a fit now?

* YES/NO

* Does the patient have clusters of tiny purple spots or a rash that looks like bleeding or bruising under the skin?

* Or, despite any pain they may have, is the patient completely unable to move their chin down to touch their chest?

* YES/NO

What is the patient's date of birth?
Patient Date of Birth

Day required/Month required/Year required.

If you do not know the exact date of birth of the patient, please enter an estimated date of birth but ensure that the year of birth is correct.

Please enter the patient's details.
Patient Details
First Name:
Last Name:
Sex:
* Male
* Female

Address:
Post Code:

Does the patient attend a specialist renal or kidney clinic for the care of renal or kidney failure?

* NO/YES

Thank you.

We will now check if the patient is suffering from flu.

Does the patient have a high temperature and at least two of the following symptoms?

* Widespread muscle and joint aches
* A cough
* Headache
* Blocked or runny nose
* Sore throat
* Vomiting
* Watery diarrhoea
* Cannot stop crying (only children)
* NO/YES

Has the patient had flu symptoms for 7 days or less?

* More than 7 days
* 7 days or less
* NO/YES

Have these flu symptoms been previously treated with Tamiflu or Relenza?

* NO/YES

Is the patient also experiencing any of these additional symptoms?

* Breathing much faster than normal (particularly children)

* Sharp or stabbing chest pain on breathing

* Thick, yellow, green, brown or bloody phlegm

* Breathing difficulties, for example, unable to complete a sentence, (or for children chest skin sucked between ribs when breathing)

* Uncharacteristic changes in behaviour such as drowsiness, new confusion or appearing terrified (particularly children)

* NO/YES

Is the patient:

* Having treatment for immune deficiency

* On immune suppressant drugs such as regular steroids, methotrexate, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide

* Having, or recently completed, treatment for cancer, leukaemia or lymphoma

* A transplant recipient

* HIV positive

* NO/YES

Does the patient have any of the following underlying conditions?


* Chronic lung disease or asthma which has been medically treated within the last three years
* Heart disease
* Diabetes or another metabolic disease
* Chronic liver disease
* Cystic fibrosis
* Neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy
* Sickle cell disease

* NO/YES

Does the patient have any additional symptoms as well as flu, such as:

* Drinking much less than usual (less than half feeds if for a child who is bottle fed)
* Persistent vomiting
* Severe earache
* Persistent watery diarrhoea
* Markedly reduced urine output (or dry nappies for children)

* NO/YES

This is the end of the National Pandemic Flu Service assessment.

The result of the assessment is that:

* There is important health advice for this patient (given below)

* An antiviral treatment course is authorised

* The treatment course should be collected from the Antiviral Collection Point (see instructions below)


It is recommended that the patient takes an antiviral treatment course.

This service will issue the patient with one antiviral treatment course, which is effective for the treatment of flu. This is the only course of antiviral treatment which will be authorised for that patient.

The following authorisation number must be brought to the Antiviral Collection Point in order to collect the antiviral medicine.

Please write down this number.

The authorisation number for this patient is:

T75-041VA892-3


ANTIVIRAL COLLECTION POINT INFORMATION

The patient should stay at home and have their antiviral collected by a friend or family member to minimise the spread of flu.


If the patient does not have someone to collect the antiviral on their behalf, please see the advice below:

England - Please contact a local Primary Care Trust (PCT)

Scotland - Please follow local Health Board guidance. Click here to find out how to contact your local Health Board.

Wales - Please telephone the patient’s GP if you think they have swine flu and may need antiviral treatment

Northern Ireland - Please contact your Health and Social Care Board

The person collecting the antiviral must bring proof of both their own and the patient’s identity with them to the Antiviral Collection Point. This should be one of the following:

* Birth/Marriage Certificate
* Building Society/National Saving Book
* Cheque Book
* Cheque Guarantee/Credit/Debit Card
* Child Benefit Letter
* Council Tax Payment Book
* Credit Card Statement (not older than 6 months)
* Full Driving Licence
* Healthcare Professional Registration Number and ID Card
* Military ID
* NHS Card
* Paid Utility Bill (not older than 6 months)

Please click here to see a list of Antiviral Collection Points to pick up the antiviral.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
Did you say Tamiflu? (Oseltamivir)

I will not take Antivirals, wanna know why I would rather fight the virus naturally?

WARNING : Antivirals may kill you!
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Check out my research thread on the effects of Tamiflu and Relenza (Tamiflu being by far the most dangerous.)

You have been warned, it could be the last drug you ever take.

Originally posted by TheAgentNineteen

Originally posted by muzzleflash
Did you say Tamiflu? (Oseltamivir)

I will not take Antivirals, wanna know why I would rather fight the virus naturally?

WARNING : Antivirals may kill you!
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Check out my research thread on the effects of Tamiflu and Relenza (Tamiflu being by far the most dangerous.)

You have been warned, it could be the last drug you ever take.

Consider yourself extremely fortunate, because many people with underlying/pre-existing conditions can only be saved through Antivirals if they miss out on the Vaccine. I myself have experienced such a case with a family member before, and any risk you might mention in regards to an Antiviral dose was far outweighed by the risk which the Virus itself (Influenza) posed to them.