Scots get life-saving swine flu treatment at last

Published on Thursday 29 October 2009 21:06

MORE patients with swine flu could get life-saving treatment in Scotland, it emerged yesterday, as cases of the virus surged.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said two patients had received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Yesterday, the latest figures on swine flu in Scotland showed 19,200 people contracted the virus last week – up from 14,650 the previous week.

Last week also saw 176 people admitted to hospital with H1N1 – up from 108 the week before. So far, 556 people have needed hospital treatment.

The past week has also seen the highest number of deaths reported in the pandemic – nine over just seven days, bringing the total to 26 in Scotland.

The latest death, an adult from NHS Borders area with underlying health problems, was reported yesterday.

ECMO is used to treat seriously ill patients whose heart or lungs do not function properly.

Previously, Scotland had ECMO equipment for adults in Aberdeen but no staff trained in their use and Scottish patients needing this treatment were send to Leicester.

One Scottish swine flu victim, pregnant Sharon Pentleton, received ECMO treatment in Sweden because no beds were available. She made a full recovery.

The arrival of ECMO should mean other seriously ill patients can be treated in Scotland when the Leicester unit is full.

Ms Sturgeon repeated appeals for at-risk groups to have the swine flu vaccine. She said that 165,000 doses had been supplied to health boards, with the total rising to 367,000 by next Friday.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said some GPs had raised concerns about receiving supplies of the vaccine.

Ms Sturgeon insisted there was no delay and it was still expected to be made available to 1.3 million people in priority groups by Christmas.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie criticised a lack of information on how many health staff had received the jab so far.