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Stories Below:

1. The Big Care Debate

2. Swine Flu Update & Further Information

The Big Care Debate

Two new dates announced

The Government's new Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, sets out a vision for a National Care Service for all adults in England. A service that is fair, simple and affordable for everyone, underpinned by national rights and entitlements and personalised to individual needs. It asks for your views on some difficult choices that we need to make for this vision to become a reality.

Please click here (PDF) to view a letter from Phil Hope MP, the Minister for Care Services, in which he explains why the proposals in this Green Paper are some of the most fundamental reforms ever in this area.

For more information, telephone 020 7261 8400 or email: careandsupport@coi.gsi.gov.uk

If you would like to find out more about the Big Care Debate, and contribute your thoughts and views on the Green Paper online, please visit www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk.

Swine flu latest

We expect local GPs to begin offering swine flu vaccination to those in priority 'at risk' groups in the next few weeks. The primary aim of vaccination is to protect the person who receives the vaccine, but vaccinated individuals are also less likely to be a source of infection to others.

Vaccine priority groups 

The priority groups have been identified because they are at highest risk of severe illness should they contract the swine flu virus. They should be prioritised for vaccination in order, once the vaccine has been licensed. Frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical risk group as they are at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to vulnerable patients. 

The following groups will be the first to be vaccinated with H1N1 swine flu vaccine, in the following order, once the vaccine has been licensed:

• Individuals aged between six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups;

• All pregnant women, subject to licensing conditions on trimesters;

• Household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals;

• People aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups. 

In addition to this, front line health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical at risk groups as they are at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients.

I've already had swine flu, do I still need to be vaccinated?

You can only be certain that you've had swine flu if it was confirmed by a laboratory test. Otherwise, you may have had normal flu or something else. Unless you know for sure that you had swine flu, and are in one of the high risk groups listed, you should have the vaccination. 

Is the vaccine safe?

Yes. It has been licensed by the European Medicine Agency (EMeA). 

Does the vaccine have any side effects?

Aside from a slightly sore arm some people may experience mild fever up to 48 hours. This happens as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but it's not flu.

As with most vaccines, the most common side effects are a mild fever, general aches and pains, a rash and feeling tired. These will usually go away within a day or two. If you are concerned about side effects, talk to your GP. 

Can I have the swine flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

Yes. The swine flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines including the seasonal flu Injection 

For further information regarding swine flu visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pandemic-flu. 

If you think that you might have swine flu, stay at home and contact the National Pandemic Flu Service at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemic flu or call 0800 1 513 100. They can give you advice and, if necessary, provide you with antiviral drugs.