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Pregnant women are confused by mixed messages over what precautions they should take to avoid catching swine flu, it was claimed today.
Assurances of “business as usual” from chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson appear to be contradicted by at least two other sources.
The conflicting advice centres on whether pregnant women should avoid crowds and public transport.
Sir Liam said today that expectant women, who are classified as a high risk group, may be advised to stay at home — but only if rates soar in the autumn.
He added: “We are not advising pregnant women to cut down on their normal daily activity — some might choose to be very precautionary and not want to go into crowded places, but that is not the advice.
“But we will look at it again when it comes to the autumn when we get possibly big numbers of cases.” He added that at the moment there is not enough swine flu “out there” for people to have a “big chance” of encountering the virus on a daily basis. His message was echoed by Health Secretary Andy Burnham.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “I don't understand why it is more important to be careful in the autumn than it is now. The number of cases may well be higher in October, but nonetheless it is still possible for people to catch it now and that is all individuals care about.”
Twelve days ago a joint statement from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives urged mothers-to-be to avoid unnecessary travel and crowds where possible. And the NHS Choices website says: “If you are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel and avoiding crowds where possible.” The National Childbirth Trust even advised women to delay conception, but was accused of scaremongering.
A document advising women to delay getting pregnant until after the pandemic was withdrawn from the Department of Health website, adding to the confusion. Justine Roberts, founder of internet forum mumsnet.com, said: “Women are confused because there are so many mixed messages around.
“It is very impractical for pregnant women to avoid crowded places and it is causing a lot of angst. Women are feeling very guilty about this because it is almost impossible for them to avoid crowds. The Government seems to be saying, Panic but don't panic'. ”
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “I am concerned that pregnant women are getting conflicting advice from the Department of Health. Consistent and clear advice is paramount in a situation where we are trying to maintain business as usual' ”. By the end of the week every area in the country must set up a distribution centre, where people can pick up Tamiflu for friends with swine flu.
But patients at London's first NHS Tamiflu distribution centre admitted ignoring advice to get their hands on the medication. Patients are supposed to phone their doctors before arriving at the specialist clinic near Mile End hospital. But many are unaware of the advice, or are going to the clinic anyway in the hope of collecting Tamiflu capsules.
A website and phone line, manned by non-medically trained staff, will be set up to take pressure off GPs by the end of the week. But patients using the Tower Hamlets centre said they are bypassing their doctors. Ash Inam, 27, from Tower Hamlets, said: “I have a GP but they are a pain. You call them and they say only come after four days.”
Internet sales of Tamiflu are booming with one online pharmacy claiming it had sold 200 packs of Tamiflu at £120 each over the weekend. The Department of Health insists it has enough Tamiflu for everyone.
Swine flu has so far killed more than 700 people worldwide since emerging in April, and countries could consider closing schools to slow its spread, the World Health Organisation said.
The United Nations agency's death toll two weeks ago was 429.
The WHO said it was up to national health authorities to decide on measures to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus. A spokeswoman added: “School closure is one of the mitigating measures that could be considered.”
British researchers wrote in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases yesterday that plans needed to be drafted for when and how to close schools.
But the Government said today that closures were unlikely. However, there would be a review in August.
