Brits get direct access to a pandemic flu service

Brits will soon have direct access to a pandemic flu service which will make drugs for swine flu available without needing to consult a doctor.

Britain has been struggling to cope with exceptional levels of demand over swine flu and the phone and website service, which will at present only cover England, is the first of its kind in the world.

The National Flu Service was always a part of the government's contingency plans and is designed to relieve pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) and will be staffed by 1,500 call centre staff who will use a checklist to diagnoses cases. Pregnant women, people with health conditions and infants under 1 year of age will still be referred to a GP.

Call centre staff will use a checklist to help diagnose whether the caller has swine flu and if they are thought to be infected, they will then issue them with a voucher number for anti-viral drugs - a website will also be available to the public with a checklist of symptoms designed by the British Medical Association, and will also provide access to a voucher number.

While health officials acknowledge that the service is open to abuse they say it is worth the risk in order to cope with the situation.

The flu service does have some security checks in place - those who are diagnosed with swine flu are given their own unique voucher number for a flu friend to collect their drugs, so the service will know if an individual is trying to get more than one dose of an antiviral drug - the flu friend will also have to present ID for the patient when they collect the drug.

Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have all experienced much less demand but the flu service will be available in those areas if needed.

Across the globe governments and vaccine makers are racing to come up with a safe and effective vaccine before the new virus makes its second round in the autumn and winter seasons.

In the United States thousands of volunteers of all ages are being sought to test the first swine flu shots due to begin trials in August and if there are no immediate safety concerns, such as allergic reactions, testing will begin in children as young as 6 months - this could mean that by October a swine flu vaccine could be offered to millions of Americans but the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says it will be a close race.

Australian vaccine maker CSL has already begun trials of its swine-flu vaccination in Adelaide with 240 healthy adults and says if directed by the Government, distribution can begin before the trials are completed.

The Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, says she is expecting the number of swine flu cases to peak in August and as soon she has advice that the vaccine is safe and effective, it will be rolled out to the community.

CSL says it is monitoring the global trends of the swine flu virus so it can adapt the vaccine if required.

The death toll worldwide from swine flu is around 700 and in the UK 31 - in Australia more than 10,000 have been infected and there have been more than 40 deaths.