New swine flu response first class
The University Hospital of Wales in my constituency is in the news this evening for investigating & confirming a person-to-person strain of swine flu which is resistant to Tamiflu.
Having spent this afternoon on the phone to the Health Minister and to senior officials at the hospital I have been impressed with the speed at which the authorities have responded. Clearly the biggest hospital in Wales needs to ensure confidence amongst the public that it continues to be a safe environment and the thorough investigation by the National Public Health Service (NPHS) has reassured me as the Assembly Member for Cardiff North.
What we don’t know is whether this strain of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu is unique to Cardiff or whether clinicians here have been quick off the mark in identifying an issue which could also exist in other parts of the UK.
Whilst the only other person-to-person strain of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu was found in the US there is a feeling of inevitability that it would happen in Europe. What is impressive is the way this has been handled, the care being shown to those patients who are ill, the monitoring being done by NPHS and the advice being given to families.
It is important for people to feel confident in our hospital services and the response to swine flu in Wales has been professional and decisive.