Extra staff needed at swine flu call centre
Posted on May 01 2009
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EXTRA NHS staff have been taken on at a Nottingham call centre to deal with people concerned about swine flu.
The NHS Direct base in Sneinton - which takes calls from across the East Midlands - has been "very busy" since the outbreak hit the headlines this week.
Anyone concerned they may have the condition is being urged to call the service 0845 4647 so they can receive treatment, information or advice.
Nigel Nice, regional director for NHS Direct in the East Midlands, said the number of staff at work depended on the volume of calls expected.
Dr Nice said: "We are very -busy. That is not surprising as our number has been publicised in a lot of places.
 "The general public is concerned. When people hear the number on the news they will ring it.
"We have taken on extra staff as we always do and we are dealing with it in the best way possible."
Across the country, 15% of the calls received on Tuesday relating to possible swine flu needed passing on to a GP.
Dr Nice said: "If people have symptoms and have recently travelled to Mexico, ringing our number will mean we will be able to assess them to see if they need to try their GP."
As well as NHS Direct, anyone with symptoms who has recently travelled to Mexico is advised to call their GP or visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk.
A national flu line is also giving advice to people with flu-like symptoms on 0800 1513513.