Statement to the Assembly by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey on swine flu
Tuesday, 24 November 2009“Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update for Members on recent developments in relation to the swine flu pandemic.
“In the last few weeks, levels of flu like illness across the UK appear to be on the decrease. In Northern Ireland, GP consultation rates have decreased again from around 226 to 106 per 100,000 of the population but still remain higher than previous years. Rates for flu like illness are particularly high in the 0-4 year age group.
“To date, there have been a total of 1,274 confirmed swine flu cases and some 548 hospitalised cases in Northern Ireland. Sadly, there have been 13 swine flu related deaths in Northern Ireland. Whilst the decrease in figures is encouraging, we cannot afford to be complacent. The further fall in consultation rates suggests that our preparations and plans are working.
“Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the tremendous work of health and social care staff, of GPs and everyone who has been involved in preparing for and responding to this pandemic.
“I know at first hand the huge efforts made by everyone working in health who are dealing with the considerable pressure on services as a result of this swine flu pandemic. These efforts are continuing and I want to thank everyone for their commitment and dedication.
“At Departmental level, I continue to participate on a weekly basis with health ministers from across the UK as part of four Nations meetings. I also take part in Cabinet Office meetings with other ministerial colleagues from across the UK government. My Department also remains in regular contact with officials in the Republic of Ireland to share information and knowledge about this pandemic. I will be meeting with Mary Harney tomorrow to further discuss the swine flu pandemic as part of the North South Ministerial Council meeting.
“While the frequency and volume of these meetings is considerable, it reflects the seriousness with which I and other UK ministers are taking this global health threat. In fact, it is because of the significant level of planning and time that has been invested in this issue, that my Department, health and social care services and our GPs have been so well prepared to deal with this pandemic.
“We still cannot predict how this virus may evolve nor whether the pandemic has peaked or if flu levels will rise again in the weeks ahead. Previous pandemics have taught us that there may be further waves in future months, possibly up to a year later, and they may be more severe. Since my last statement to this Assembly, there has been notable and significant progress in rolling-out the vaccine to priority groups. The swine flu vaccination programme started on 21 October and was targeted at patients in clinical at-risk groups, frontline Health and Social Care workers, and household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals. It was also targeted at pregnant women who are four times more likely to develop serious complications from swine flu and up to five times more likely to need to go to hospital.
“To date, almost 7,000 pregnant women and over 20,000 frontline health and social care workers have been vaccinated. By mid-December the vaccine will have been offered to around 500,000 of those people in the initial priority groups in Northern Ireland.
“Urgent arrangements were also put in place to offer the vaccine to children with complex needs and severe learning disability. Around 2,100 pupils in these schools have now received their vaccination. Children with special needs and underlying physical health conditions, who are not in special schools have been offered the vaccine, as have some staff in special schools for severe learning disabilities who provide personal care for pupils.
“Around 220,000 doses of vaccine have been distributed to GPs so far. Further vaccine shipments are being delivered on a weekly basis.
“The uptake of the vaccine among priority groups in Northern Ireland is very encouraging and I welcome the fact that so many people have taken up the offer of the vaccine, particularly those who are at increased risk from the complications of swine flu.
“Last week, I also announced plans for the second phase of the vaccination programme.
“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised the four UK health ministers that it would be reasonable to commence the next phase of the vaccination programme with children from over six months to under five years of age.
“This is because this age group appears to be at greatest risk of serious illness from swine flu. These very young children also have the highest rate of hospitalisation and must be protected. To date, in Northern Ireland some 139 children in the 0-4 age group have been hospitalised and the majority did not have any underlying health condition.
“That total is around a quarter of all swine flu admissions to hospital in Northern Ireland. Therefore it is this group on which the next phase of the vaccination campaign wishes to focus.
“I want to acknowledge once again the hard work of GPs and their staff in delivering this first phase so successfully and under very challenging circumstances. The agreement reached to deliver the first phase of the programme was to ensure that they had sufficient funding to allow them to hold additional clinics and take on extra staff to deal with the increased pressure they faced and continue to face.
“The vaccine remains our best protection against swine flu.
“Negotiations with GPs about the second phase are being conducted at a national level and are still at an early stage. It will be important to have the negotiations concluded as soon as possible so that GP practices will be able to start vaccinating these children as soon as they have covered the first priority groups. This is expected to be completed by mid-December.
“GPs have vast experience in immunising children against normal childhood diseases and we would hope to take this forward as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme.
“Vaccinating children in GP practices provides families and children with a familiar setting and offers parents some flexibility as to when their child receives the vaccine. We expect that parents will be invited to bring their child in for vaccination, if they wish to take up the offer.
“In addition, the JCVI has advised that the main carers for elderly or disabled people whose welfare may be at risk if their carer falls ill, should be encouraged to take up the vaccine once all the priority groups have been vaccinated. We will be discussing this advice with carers’ organisations including how to identify and verify the carers involved.
“Last month, agreement was finally reached on funding for swine flu. This included help in meeting the £64million estimated costs of swine flu, to which I contributed £32million.
“The clarity around my budget has allowed me to relieve some of the financial pressures currently facing health and social care trusts.
“It also allowed me to reject a number of proposals from trusts which would have had a significant impact on frontline services. We need to be able to balance the books and there is still some deficit to be accounted for. The recent decision to defer bowel cancer screening is an example of the difficult decisions which have to be made.
“Whilst I will continue to prioritise frontline services, significant pressures lie ahead and I need continued support in order to protect health and social care services for everyone in Northern Ireland. The public have a major role to play in this pandemic, not only looking after themselves, but those they come in contact with by getting the vaccine when it is offered to them.
“It is the best way for people to be protected against swine flu.
“As well as accepting the vaccine when it is offered to you or your child, simple but effective hygiene measures such as frequent hand-washing can also help. Remember to cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then put the tissue into a bin – catch it, bin it, kill it!
“I would like to reassure the public that for the vast majority of people, swine flu remains a relatively mild illness from which you will make a full recovery.
“Unfortunately for some people the symptoms are much more severe. For those people who are most at risk the vaccine is the most important means of defence against swine flu. Protect yourself, protect those at risk and get the vaccine.”
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