MPs get info on getting anti-swine flu drugs unlike general public

By William Green on Aug 6, 09 09:00 PM

Here is a curious story. I am sure it is all of course perfectly reasonable. Hey could there be a riot if the general public found out where the stocks of anti-viral drugs to combat swine flu are?

Are our politicians less than trusting of voters than we might hope? I have found a letter from Health Secretary Andy Burham telling MPs where to get anti-swine flu drugs.

But he demanded the information is kept secret from the general public in a letter about the launch of the National Pandemic Flu Service.

A spreadsheet of collection points currently active in England was included with the letter, although not alongside the copy deposited with the Parliamentary authorities.

"This information is not for general public release because we do not want people to go to anti-viral collection points who do not need them.

"I felt it was important for you to have this information because I thought it would be of use to you but please do not issue it more generally," said Mr Burnham.

He added that more collection points would be set up and that MPs would receive more information on swine flu developments through weekly briefings provided by their local strategic health authorities (SHAs).

"I would request that, if you are contacted by a constituent who may be suffering from swine flu, you advise them that they use the National Pandemic Flu Service as outlined above.

"Members of the public must not go directly to an anti-viral collection point without having accessed the service."

Members of the public have to ring the flu line to get a unique number for a local collection point to get access to anti-viral drugs.

"Equally, SHAs, whilst ensuring that there are enough ACPs to cover their populations, are not publicising the locations of the ACPs generally, but people being prescribed anti-virals will be given the location of their nearest Antiviral Collection Point when they get their unique anti-viral number," said Mr Burnham.

Here is the link to the letter.

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