Swine Flu Helpline

The new national telephone helpline set up by the Government in response to the dramatic number of cases of swine flu being diagnosed each day, got of to a less than brilliant start yesterday. first of all it collapsed under the sheer volume of calls,  it was at one point receiving a reported 156,000 calls per hour, a response to the scaremongering of the last couple of weeks, the numbers are rising but the overwhelming majority of these cases will suffer no more than a few days of regular flu like symptoms and then recover with no ill effects. Even without medication the number of fatalities are thankfully  still low, with the number being downsized to 31 deaths so far. As usual Labours half arsed approach to organising the helpline has produced some comical moments. by hiring staff  who’s grasp of the English language is at best Broken  and at worst hopeless to man the phones they have produced these gem’s. Operator to caller “are you unconscious” are you “difficult to wake” are you “unresponsive”. one caller after reporting a sore throat was advised “you wont need medicine until you are worse”.  You couldn’t make this stuff up. On a serious note if anyone is concerned about their health or anyone else’s and wants to take a chance with the helpline the number is 0800 1513 100.