Statement

Date: August 7 2009

A spokesperson for NHS Warwickshire said: “Warwickshire requires five antiviral collection

points (ACPs) to cover all parts of what is a geographically diverse county. Prior to ACPs being

established, Tamiflu was being distributed through pharmacies in line with Government

direction. However, the amount of antiviral medication being handed out is now too great for

distribution to continue this way, which is why the ACPs at libraries in Stratford-upon-Avon,

Warwick, Rugby, Nuneaton and Atherstone were opened.

“The opening of the ACPs had to be set up in a short space of time in line with the opening of

the national flu line. This presented a challenge in itself not least because approximately 350

shifts a week needed to be staffed at the five ACPs. Non clinical as well as local authority staff

were redeployed to cover these shifts but there remained an urgent need for more staff to cover

them. As a result of this shortfall, business continuity plans had to be put in place. We have had

to make some tough management decisions as a consequence of this with as minimum

disruption to services where possible. After taking the difficult decision to suspend day services,

not only at Ellen Badger Hospital, but also at Alcester Hospital and the Stephenson Unit at

Royal Leamington Spa Rehab Hospital, colleagues from both health and social care worked

closely together to identify those patients at high risk and these patients were cared for with

additional resources.

“Some staff from the day services have had to be diverted to other clinical departments to deal

with the impact of swine flu on clinical teams or cover other staff shortages. Furthermore, due to

the timing of the opening of the ACPs coinciding with the holiday period, it has been a very

challenging time for this PCT. Other services have had to be reconfigured too, as the NHS gets

to grips with the biggest Pandemic challenge it has faced for 40 years. We would like to stress

that employees being redeployed to staff ACPs from Ellen Badger are trained healthcare

assistants, not nurses or doctors.

“A meeting was held yesterday (FRI) with senior managers, social workers and the modern

matrons of the day services to review all the patients of the day services at highest risk in order

to resume part of the service as quickly as possible.

“The opening hours of the ACPs are under constant review and we continue to look at the best

way to provide the Tamiflu service in Warwickshire. While cases of swine flu have fallen, we can

expect more waves of the virus later in the year resulting in the likelihood of further tough

emergency decisions.

“We apologise to anyone who thinks they have been inconvenienced by these difficult decisions

but we would like to reassure Warwickshire residents that ensuring the best possible healthcare

remains at the top of our agenda.”

** Ends **