Swine Influenza Viral Infection
Patient and Visitor Information
In order to safeguard all patients, visitors and staff at the hospital and in line with national recommendations by the Health Protection Agency you are advised to stay at home if you have flu-like symptoms such as:
- fever ≥ 38°C OR a history of fever
- AND
- flu-like illness (cough, runny nose, limb/joint pain, headache) as you may have swine flu.
What to do
- Discuss your symptoms using the National Pandemic Flu Service via
- www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
- or call 0800 1 513 100 (0800 1 513 200 for textphone).
The National Flu Service is a new self-care service that will give people with swine flu symptoms fast access to information and antivirals. Your symptoms will be assessed and if required, provide you with an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication from a local collection point.
Telephone your GP directly if:
- you have a serious underlying illness
- your are pregnant
- you have a sick child under one year of age
- your condition suddenly gets worse, or your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
Telephone the hospital on 020 8949 9000 if you need to cancel a booked appointment or planned admission for treatment.
Patients’ visitors are advised not to visit their friends or relatives if they are suffering any flu like symptoms.
