Swine flu woman tells residents to persist

Hayley Flowerday, of Wilton Road, recognised flu symptoms two weeks ago. She contacted her GP, who advised her to contact the National Pandemic Flu Service, run by the NHS. At first, advisors told her she needed "fluid and bedrest."

Hayley said: "It's been so hard to get this medication, and for me to get the point where I think I need to call an ambulance is wrong.

"Old people's immune systems might not be so good. I think there's a lack of communication. It's like you have to lie."

She became scared after feelings of nausea increased. Her glands were up, temperature raised, and she had diarrhea. She decided to call the hotline again, and was again advised to drink fluids and take bedrest.

She said: "On Saturday just gone I was being sick all the time and my heart was racing. I phoned the NHS. After going through it all for the third time they gave me Tamiflu for five days."

A recent survey raised questions about the National Pandemic Flu Service, which handles half of all calls with an operator, and the other half via its website. Out of 251 family doctors, 87% said that diagnosing swine flu over the phone did mean that other diseases may be missed.

For information about the National Pandemic Flu Service, which allows people to check their condition online or over the phone, see page four of this week's Observer.