Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Dr Colin Bradshaw wants patients in at risk groups get immunised.

07 January 2011
By Verity Ward

STOCKS of the flu vaccine are running out in South Tyneside as residents rush to get immunised.

And, as the death toll of flu victims rises nationally to 50 – 45 from swine flu – it was revealed a young person from the borough died after refusing the vaccine.

A number of GP surgeries in South Tyneside have run out of the jab, which protects against both swine and seasonal flu.

Faisal Al Durrah, consultant in public health medicine at NHS South of Tyne and Wear, which covers South Tyneside Primary Care Trust, said: "Some GP surgeries in South Tyneside have come to the end of their stocks, as the jab is usually given from October to December.

"We are working with GPs to ensure supply issues are resolved quickly."

Practices are being asked to share surplus with neighbours, and manufacturers have been asked about bringing in doses from Europe.

GPs will be able to order from the millions of pandemic vaccine doses still being held by the government for patients in risk groups, including the over 65s, those with other illnesses and pregnant women.

Dr Colin Bradshaw, from Marsden Road Health Centre in Horsley Hill, South Shields, has seen many people with flu-like illnesses recently – but said it was impossible to say whether it was swine flu without lab tests.

He said one of his young patients had died from flu.

He said: "Doctors, whether GPs or in hospital, can't tell swine flu by history and examination. You can only do it by taking samples and sending it off to the laboratory.

"There is no value in this as people suffer similar symptoms, get the same treatment and can die from both.

"We had a young person from the practice die of complications of flu.

This person had significant other health problems and was offered immunisation, but said they didn't want it. That person is now dead."

Dr Bradshaw said doctors had to predict and pre-order the amount of vaccine – which is non-refundable – they would need now last summer.

But it was more difficult to buy in stocks as suppliers could not guarantee the order – and if they ran out, it could take weeks to replenish.

He said: "My practice hasn't suffered shortages as we opted to take the financial risk, but cover all our at risk groups.

"I know other practices have suffered, as we have loaned vaccines so they can immunise their vulnerable patients."

Despite stocks being low, Dr Bradshaw is still urging those most at risk to get immunised.

He added: "We would encourage any of our patients in risk groups who haven't had their flu jab to make an appointment."

WHIPPS CROSS: No intensive care beds available
5:38pm Friday 7th January 2011

THERE are no intensive care beds left at Whipps Cross Hospital, as staff deal with one confirmed case of Swine Flu and another seven suspected cases, including two children.

But the hospital says it is 'coping well' with the numbers of suspected cases due to an increase in isolation facilties since December.

One confirmed case of Swine Flu (H1N1) and three other suspected cases are currently being treated in intensive care.

Two children are currently undergoing tests for H1N1, as are two patients on other wards.

There has also been a number of confirmed cases of Norovirus, or winter vomiting bug, over the last week, but the hospital says it is consistent with the increase in the numbers of cases reported in the community.

Last year, the hospital was sealed off to the public and visitors, after five wards were closed due to an outbreak of the virus, which causes projectile vomiting and diarrhoea.

A spokeswoman said: “The trust has put in place heightened vigilance and awareness for Norovirus including Infection Control measures which are in line with national guidelines for the management of Norovirus cases.

“Identified active cases are isolated immediately – if a second case occurs in the same area the ward is closed and reviewed.”

Archive Number 20110107.0086
Published Date 07-JAN-2011
Subject PRO/EDR> Influenza (02): UK

INFLUENZA (02): UNITED KINGDOM
******************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 6 Jan 2011
Source: Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 1 [abbreviated and edited]
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19760>


Ref: Virological analysis of fatal influenza
cases in the United Kingdom during the early wave
of influenza in winter 2010/11.
By J Ellis and 11 others
Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom

Summary
-------
The 2010/11 winter influenza season is underway
in the United Kingdom, with co-circulation of
influenza A(H1N1)2009 (antigenically similar to
the current 2010/11 vaccine strain), influenza B
(mainly B/Victoria/ 2/87 lineage, similar to the
2010/11 vaccine strain) and a few sporadic
influenza A(H3N2) viruses. Clinical influenza
activity has been increasing. Severe illness,
resulting in hospitalisation and deaths, has
occurred in children and young adults and has
predominantly been associated with influenza
A(H1N1)2009, but also influenza B viruses.

Introduction
------------
The onset of this winter season in the northern
hemisphere is associated with more uncertainty
than usual about which influenza viruses are
likely to circulate and predominate, given the
varying proportions of different virus strains
circulating in the southern hemisphere between
June and September 2010 [1]. Notably, influenza
A(H3N2) predominated over influenza A(H1N1)2009
in several countries, e.g. South Africa and
Chile. The 2nd wave of the pandemic in the United
Kingdom (UK) during the winter season of 2009/10
was almost exclusively associated with
circulation of influenza A(H1N1)2009 [2].
Serological evaluation in the UK of population
immunity to the pandemic strain after the 2nd
wave suggested that susceptibility was lowest in
younger age groups (<15 years), with significant
remaining susceptibility in the age group of 15­44 year-olds [3].

In view of the importance of children in the
transmission of influenza A(H1N1)2009 [4], and
the limited remaining susceptibility within this
group, the probability of extensive morbidity in
this age group associated with this strain in
winter 2010/11 was considered unlikely in the
absence of significant antigenic change in the
pandemic virus. The extent, however, to which
influenza A(H1N1)2009 would predominate over
influenza A(H3N2) and cause illness in the
remaining susceptible children and younger adults was unknown.

Investigations
--------------
Virological surveillance in the UK operates
through hospital laboratories in secondary care
and community-based schemes. Specimens containing
influenza virus from community, hospitalised and
fatal cases are forwarded to the UK National
Influenza Centre for further characterisation.
Samples are also received directly from sentinel
primary care physicians participating in
virological surveillance schemes in the community
[5]. An antigenic typing profile is developed for
each virus isolate and compared with influenza
vaccine and reference strains. Genotypic and,
where appropriate, phenotypic antiviral
susceptibility analyses are performed on
influenza-positive clinical material and/or virus
isolates. Genetic characterisation is performed
by targeted haemagglutinin (HA) sequence analysis
and/or whole genome sequencing for a subset of
isolates (primer sequences available on request).

[Epidemiological findings -- the data, figures,
tables, references and accompanying text -- are
omitted and interested readers are referred to
the original article for this information. Only
the discussion and conclusions are presented here
on account of their general interest.]

Discussion and conclusions
--------------------------
Early detections of influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus
were 1st reported in weeks 40­42 from cases in
the community. Indicators of clinical activity
began to rise in week 47 crossing the traditional
baseline threshold level indicating generalised
influenza activity in the community in week 49,
and have continued to increase up to week 52.

Influenza virus circulation is underway in the UK
and is contributing to seasonal winter pressures
in the health system. The circulation of other
winter viruses such as respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV) and the particularly cold weather are
also contributing. The virological picture is
complex, with many strains of influenza virus
circulating but no antigenic change in the
influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus, and no immediately
obvious genetic differences between viruses
recovered from fatal cases and those causing mild illness.

The picture of the illness associated with
influenza A(H1N1)2009 infection is consistent
with what was seen in the 2009 pandemic, with a
similar demographic impact, particularly
affecting children and young adults. Whilst young
age groups have the least experience of influenza
and are recognised as important in the
transmission of influenza, it is also possible
that propensity to consult a doctor is greatest
in younger age groups. Although the remaining
susceptibles in the age group under 15 year
account for high rates of positivity in peak
weeks in community samples (as is often the case
during seasonal influenza), it is notable that
overall, sustained high rates of positivity are
most marked in the age group between 15 and 44
years. This is in contrast to earlier pandemic
waves in 2009 when highest rates of positivity in
the community were observed in the 5-14 year-olds.

The age group of 15-44 year-olds is also clearly
the major group contributing to hospital
admissions and deaths. The increase in
requirement for critical care in the current
season reflects the impact of influenza
A(H1N1)2009 illness in the remaining susceptible
young adults (15-44 years) and risk groups in the population.

Most of those with severe illness, and those
dying, have not previously been vaccinated
against influenza and have not had the benefit of
the early use of antiviral drugs. Countries in
Europe yet to experience substantial influenza
activity this winter may wish to take all
reasonable measures to increase the uptake of
seasonal influenza vaccine in those at high risk
of the complications of influenza and to ensure
that antiviral drugs are readily available for
those who are either severely ill or at increased
risk of severe illness from influenza.

---
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The important interim conclusions of this
analysis are that the virological picture is
complex, with many strains of influenza virus
circulating but no antigenic change in the
influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus, and no immediately
obvious genetic differences between viruses
recovered from fatal cases and those causing mild
illness. The picture of the illness associated
with influenza A(H1N1)2009 infection is
consistent with what was seen in the 2009 pandemic.

To put this information in perspective the
corresponding situation throughout Europe
according to the EuroFlu - Weekly Electronic
Bullet of Fri 7 Jan 2010
(<http://www.euroflu.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi>)
is the following: "Increasing consultation rates
were reported by 12 of the 32 countries
submitting data on influenza-like illness (ILI)
and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI), mostly
in children aged 0-4 years. In the United Kingdom
(England), the group aged 5-14 was most affected.
Of the 10 countries presenting calculated
baseline thresholds, 5 (France, Ireland, Israel,
Luxembourg and Ukraine) reported clinical
consultation rates above the thresholds. Denmark
and the United Kingdom (England) reported a high
intensity of influenza activity.

"Of the 38 countries reporting on the
geographical spread of influenza, 11 reported
widespread activity; 5 reported regional
activity; 6 reported local activity and the
remaining 16 reported no or sporadic activity.
The impact of influenza on health care systems
was low in 16 of the 21 countries reporting on
this indicator, with Ireland, Israel, the United
Kingdom (Wales and Scotland) and Turkey reporting moderate impact."

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the
United Kingdom can be accessed at: <http://healthmap.org/r/008E>. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Influenza: Egypt 20110103.0029
2010
----
Influenza (26): Russia (SV) H1N1 20101231.4612
Influenza (25): Europe 20101231.460
Influenza (24): Sri Lanka 20101224.4532
Influenza (23): USA, Egypt, Sri Lanka 20101223.4519
Influenza (22): WHO update 123 20101221.4495
Influenza (21): Egypt (NS) H1N1 fatal 20101218.4467
Influenza (20): WHO, Europe, UK 20101217.4463
Influenza (19): Europe, Israel, Yemen 20101216.4454
Influenza (18): WHO update, UK 20101212.4418
Influenza (17): Canada (MB), 1st nation 20101203.4341
Influenza (16): Zimbabwe (MV) 20101126.4274
Influenza (15): WHO update 20101124.4243
Influenza (14): swine origin (tr) H3N2 viruses 20101112.4117
Influenza (13): WHO update 20101111.4092
Influenza (06): WHO update 116 20100912.3295]
...................cp/ejp/mpp

Four people suffering from swine flu have died in Rotherham this winter, doctors have said.

Three were patients at Rotherham District Hospital, the hospital's medical director Professor Walid Al-Wali told BBC News. The fourth was a 16-year-old who died at home.

All had swine flu, but also had other underlying medical problems, he said.

The hospital cancelled non-urgent surgery this week because of a shortage of bed space as a result of flu cases.

Professor Al-Wali said: "We have cancelled all elective surgery since Monday but are still doing emergency surgery.

"We have taken that decision in a very balanced way to ensure that patients with clinical need get care.

"The cancellation of electives was so important so we can manage the large number of people coming in with respiratory illnesses, particularly swine flu."

He urged anyone with flu-like symptoms to consult their GP or NHS Direct instead of going straight to hospital.

Second wave of flu puts the elderly at risk

A second flu wave could emerge in the coming weeks, this time hitting elderly people, figures suggest.

Elderly people who have not had their seasonal flu jab should contact their doctors, experts have advised

While data released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) disclose that flu cases appear to have peaked among the young, they also show that infection rates among older age groups are continuing to rise.

Last night a flu expert warned elderly people who had not had the seasonal flu jab to contact their doctors, amid signs that two strains of the virus which have been relatively quiet so far this winter could be about to take a stronger hold.

GPs' surgeries are already running out of vaccine and manufacturers have warned they have no more stock.

Last night Scotland's leading microbiologist, Hugh Pennington, described the swine flu vaccination system in England as "a shambles".

"I blame both the GPs and the Government," he said. "The GPs could have got their ordering better – everybody knew this was coming. The advertising campaign left a lot to be desired. In Scotland we have been better prepared but we could have done more."

THE Government’s emergency flu crisis plan was in tatters last night as it emerged the leftover swine flu pandemic jabs being rushed out to GPs will not be effective for up to two weeks.

A top flu expert warned that even if the old stock from the previous swine flu pandemic are rolled out, it may not protect people from infection for some time.

The alert came as the death toll from the killer virus rose to at least 53 and supplies of the current vaccine ran critically short.

This means the epidemic could spread further and more quickly and comes as European health experts have warned that it may now even transmit across to the Continent.

Increasing public fears about the sudden scale of the epidemic have sparked a rush for jabs.

But as vaccine supplies get low, and some GPs run out completely, the Government has been forced to locate and hand out leftover supplies of the previous swine flu strain jab.

Some 12.7 million doses of GlaxoSmithKline’s Pandemrix swine flu vaccine, which has a shelf life until the end of this year, are still held centrally by the Government.

Although it will not offer protection against all strains of flu circulating this year, it will protect against the dominant strain, swine flu.

Professor John Oxford, Britain’s leading flu expert, said the old vaccine is “probably the most powerful flu vaccine that has ever been used and gives 90 per cent protection”.

But he said he was surprised there was a stockpile left from the previous pandemic – and he said it could take longer than a week for people to be completely immune to the virus. Professor Oxford warned back in June that another pandemic was on the way.

He said: “I felt worried back then about it but I’m a virologist and they don’t take much notice of virologists.

“They are like mathematicians working on things. That looks very nice with graphs and figures.
“All I do is look at how many people have been infected, which is about a third of the world.

“That leaves two-thirds who have not been. I felt this meant this virus could run a bit rampant this winter which was my conclusion.” Yesterday the Daily Express revealed how almost one in three of the victims of this current flu strain was perfectly healthy with no underlying health problems or symptoms before they fell ill.

Almost all the deaths were in people not vaccinated.

Yesterday it emerged that Katrina Theis, 52, died at Wrexham’s Maelor Hospital on Wednesday of pneumonia brought on by the H1N1 swine flu strain virus.

She had a number of medical problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, anaemia, kidney failure and diabetes, which made it difficult for her to fight the virus.

“Gentle giant” and TV quiz show regular Dean Brown, 44, from East Herringthorpe, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was taken ill with a cough on New Year’s Eve and doctors identified the H1N1 strain.

The father of three was expected home from hospital this week after apparently recovering but died on Wednesday morning.

Disabled Carl Winspear, 28, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, died from swine flu on Monday. He suffered from epilepsy and cerebral palsy, and had been in and out of hospital all his life.

Swine flu jab to be used
Friday January 7 2011

Many newspapers have reported that due to a shortage of flu vaccine, the government is breaking out stocks of ‘old vaccine’ from last year.



Is there enough seasonal flu vaccine?
Most areas still have vaccine, but in a few areas stocks of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine are running low. The vaccine protects against H1N1 and two other strains, Influenza B and H3N2.



What is ‘old vaccine’?
It is simply pandemic vaccine that was stockpiled last year during the swine flu pandemic. The best before date on the vaccine is for the end of 2011 so it is still effective. The virus which it immunises against, H1N1, has not substantially changed or mutated since last year and so the vaccine still works.



Will pandemic vaccine protect against all the flu strains this winter?
No. just H1N1 (swine flu). However, H1N1 is the main type of flu going around this season and vaccinating people with the H1N1 vaccine will protect them against what is causing the most illness. Most of the deaths this season have been related to H1N1 (45 of 50 deaths since October).



Who gets the pandemic vaccine?
People in ‘at-risk’ groups for whom the seasonal vaccine is not available will receive it.

The Interim Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, said to the BBC:

“If [people] are in an at-risk group and there is seasonal flu vaccine available, then of course they will be given that. But in a few places, we understand that they haven’t got any left. In which case, better to have this one that will save lives, and then later on, if necessary, go back for the full seasonal flu vaccination.”



Are more people getting ill from flu this season?
There are high but not unusual levels of people getting flu, and the numbers are not at epidemic levels. There are some indications that the number of people with flu has peaked, but as the figures that are being used are for the Christmas period, when GPs surgeries were shut some days, it is difficult to be sure. Next week’s report will give a better idea of whether or not the flu season has peaked and is starting to decline.



Is the flu affecting different people this season?
Older people are usually more at risk of seasonal flu and having a more serious illness than younger people. However, one of the characteristics of H1N1 is that it seems to affect younger people more than older people. One theory for this is that older people were exposed to a similar strain of the virus earlier in their lives and so have some immunity to H1N1.

Many of the people who have died from flu this season have been under 65, but also had other conditions.



What is the actual number of deaths?
The HPA publishes a weekly report on the number of people visiting their GP with flu-like symptoms and the number of severe and fatal cases.

Of the 50 people who have died from flu since October, 45 had H1N1 and five had Influenza B. The majority were under 65 years of age – eight people were between five and 14 years old, 33 people were aged 15-64 and four people were 65 or over. Since October there have been five deaths in children under the age of five.

Where information is available on those who died, 33 out of 48 (69%) were in an 'at-risk' group. Of the 39 people who had information available on whether they had the seasonal flu vaccine, only three had received the jab.

These numbers may not include everybody who has died from flu, or flu-related complications, this season. It is also possible that some of the people who have died with flu, but appeared otherwise healthy, had other conditions that had not yet been diagnosed.



High-risk groups
Conditions that put you at higher risk of flu

The seasonal flu jab is offered free of charge to anyone over the age of six months with the following medical conditions, as they are at higher risk of catching flu:

chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, COPD or bronchitis
chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
chronic kidney disease
chronic liver disease
chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
diabetes
a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:

•people aged 65 or over
•pregnant women (see below)
•people with a serious medical condition (see box, right)
•people living in a residential or nursing home
•the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
•healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care
•those who work in close contact with poultry, such as chickens
Pregnant women

This winter (2010-11), the seasonal flu vaccine will be offered to all pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. This includes pregnant women not in the high-risk groups.

Usually, only pregnant women in high-risk groups are offered the seasonal flu vaccine.

For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see Seasonal flu jab.



How do I get vaccinated?
If you think you need to be vaccinated, check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist.

FLU cases at West Middlesex are beginning to 'plateau', according to staff.


The hospital has avoided the worst of the flu epidemic sweeping the country, with just four patients confirmed as having the virus so far this winter.


However, there have already been 60 suspected cases, which has put a strain on resources as each patient must be kept in isolation while awaiting test results.


West Mid's medical director Dr Stella Barnass today told the Chronicle the latest figures for London suggested flu cases were beginning to drop, with fewer suspected cases also being seen at the hospital.


"The numbers seem to be plateauing, although there's quite a lot of doubt about whether they're accurate because it's been a short week and children have just gone back to school," she said.


"We've been relatively spared but we've still had a number of suspected flu cases."


Swine flu has been responsible for the vast majority of influenza-related deaths across the country this winter but most people recover naturally from the virus within a few days.


All staff at the hospital have been offered the flu vaccine and patients in at-risk groups, including pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, have been advised to get the jab.

Posters advising people how to prevent the spread of the disease, for example by washing their hands carefully, have also gone up throughout the hospital.


People with flu-like symptoms have been urged not to visit their GP or hospital to avoid spreading the disease. They are instead advised to call their doctor or NHS Direct.


In the week before Christmas, about 80 patients across London were in critical care with flu at one point, which Dr Barnass said represented about half the capital's total capacity.


Just one patient with flu has been treated in intensive care at West Mid, which has 13 beds for critically ill patients and the option to open another six in case of emergency.


Dr Barnass said she expected the latest wave of flu to continue until about mid March.


Meanwhile, there have still only been three cases of norovirus at the hospital so far this winter.


Dr Barnass said measures such as banning staff from eating and drinking in wards and ensuring all patients who are vomiting or have diarrhoea are isolated within four hours had helped prevent the spread of the disease.


Like flu, norovirus is unpleasant but rarely serious. It spreads even more easily than flu and people displaying symptoms of the virus are also advised to stay at home.

THE swine flu epidemic has claimed two more victims in the North East, including one apparently healthy man.

Ade Bellenie had only recently celebrated his first wedding anniversary but has now been killed by the deadly virus.

Last night his grieving widow told how, in a cruel twist of fate, the same registrar who married them issued his death certificate.

Mr Bellenie was taken ill on December 27 when his oxygen and blood pressure dropped. Just a day later he was rushed into intensive care where medics discovered he had swine flu. And as thousands were getting ready to ring in 2011, the 47-year-old father died in hospital on New Year’s Eve.

“It all happened so suddenly,” said widow Anne, 51. “He was fine, perfectly healthy, and then he took ill. He was being treated for pneumonia and then the doctors found it was swine flu. It was so quick, with no warning.

“He was a real gentleman, he was brought up well. Ade made so many people laugh, everyone loved him.

“He was 6ft 3ins tall and 17-and-a-half-stones. Never in a million years would we have expected this to happen.”

The pair, who both worked at Akzo Nobel’s International Paints plant in Gateshead, met at a works social evening in Newcastle over eight years ago and married in September 2009.

Mrs Bellenie, of Fulwell, Sunderland, added: “It was a lovely day. Because we had both been married before, we were married at Sunderland Registry Office. We then had our reception at Martino’s in Fulwell and Ade went off to the Sunderland match afterwards. We then both had a night at the dogs. It was a great day but when I went to register Ade’s death we had to go into the same room at the Civic Centre we were married in on September 12, 2009, with the same chairs and the same registrar. It was awful.

“You just don’t expect this to happen to a healthy man.”

Mr Bellenie was a twin to sister Angela. He also leaves his daughter Sophie, 16, stepdaughter Joanne, 24, her four-year-old daughter Ella, stepson Craig, 23, and his older sister Lynn.

Figures show 58 reported swine flu sufferers are critically ill in hospitals in the region. Disabled Carl Winspear, 28 of Washington, died of the virus earlier this week.

Mr Bellenie was loved by his fellow workers at the paint factory who have set up a memorial page on Facebook in his memory. Dozens have left messages. Among them was Julie Thompson, who wrote: “Ade: a true gent, a gentle giant. A big man with an even bigger heart, no matter how bad my day, passing you to your bellow of ‘hello Joooolz’ always put a smile on my face.

“It was a true pleasure knowing you, you will be sadly missed.”

Julie Skinner King said: “Ade, you were my sunshine in the factory. I will be eternally grateful for the kindness and great friendship you gave me when I needed it most. You will be sadly missed but remembered with such joy and happy memories.”

Mr Bellenie died at Sunderland Royal Infirmary after suffering multiple organ failure after contracting the swine flu virus.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday at Sunderland Crematorium.

The family have asked for donations to be made to the Niall Quinn children’s ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Poole hospital faces up to flu crisis
10:00am Saturday 8th January 2011

TWO people were last night in intensive care with swine flu as Poole Hospital faced up to the flu crisis.

The hospital had another 11 patients with suspected swine flu in other wards in addition to the two seriously ill on ventilators.

Nationally 50 people have died from flu this winter, with swine flu, or H1N1, claiming 45 of the victims. The number of people in intensive care peaked earlier this week at 850.

Poole has already upped the number of ventilator beds from five to seven to cope with demand – but only has equipment to put a further two patients on ventilation.

Beyond that those with the severe respiratory problems, which can result from the flu, could only been accommodated temporarily until a bed became available in Poole or elsewhere.

The hospital has assured people that plans are in place to handle the increased seasonal demand. It has already opened an additional 30 general beds, in addition to the two extra intensive care beds.

A spokesman told the Daily Echo: “We would like to reassure the public that we have got plans in place to deal with the increased volume of work that we see at this time of year, as demonstrated by the 30 extra beds and the two extra ventilation beds.”

In preparation for the anticipated extra demand the hospital had already postponed all elective non-urgent operations – for example tonsillectomies – over Christmas and New Year and into the first week of January. Such operations are due to restart next week.

Hospitals across the country are cancelling planned operations to free up beds as the number of seriously ill flu patients rises.

But a spokesman for Royal Bournemouth Hospital said they were coping well with demand.

She added: “We currently have capacity within our existing number of intensive care beds. We are also able to increase capacity within the intensive care unit if needed.

“The trust has robust plans in place to support business continuity during the winter months, which is always a busy period.”

She said measures included opening an additional ward at Christchurch for three months and upping staffing levels.

As the flu claims more victims the clamour for the flu vaccinations, which protect against swine flu and two other strains of seasonal flu, has seen stocks run out in some areas. On Thursday the government announced it would release swine flu vaccines stockpiled last winter to overcome the shortfalls. The advice is still for anyone in an at risk group, including those with medical conditions like asthma, pregnant women and the elderly, to call their GP to arrange a flu jab.