Government proposals conflict

doi:10.1136/bmj.39220.429757.3A

BMJ 2007;334:1071-1072 (26 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39220.429757.3A

Letters

Preparedness for pandemic flu

Government proposals conflict

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The new draft plan published jointly by the Department of Healthand the Cabinet Office does indeed strive to set out a frameworkfor tackling pandemic flu at the local level.¹ ² The governmentadvises: "Those who believe they are ill will be asked to stayhome in voluntary isolation. Voluntary home isolation may berecommended for close contacts at early stages to contain/slowthe spread" (section 3.2, p 35). Yet at the same time, to ensurerapid access to antiviral medicines, it proposes: "In England,plans should assume that a friend or relative will be availableto collect the patient's antiviral treatment course from thedesignated distribution point on production of proof of identityand authorisation from the coordination centre" (section 9.9,p 90).

Both proposals are sensible, but they conflict: the friendsand relatives who go out to collect the antiviral medicineswill be the same people who should . . . [Full text of this article]

Robert Kahn, coordinator¹, John Godfrey, chairman²

¹ Avian Flu Action, Warrington WA5 2BJ, ² European Research into Consumer Affairs, London NW5 2LG

rs_kahn@hotmail.com