A number of ‘antiviral collection points’ will be set up across the county in a bid to combat the growing swine flu pandemic - with one of the centres believed to be earmarked for Shelton Hospital in Shrewsbury.
Demountable buildings in the grounds of the hospital have reportedly had computers installed, and community groups which use the rooms have been moved to other areas of the hospital.
Shropshire Primary Care Trust officials have drawn up plans to create the collection outlets, where people with symptoms will be able to go to pick up essential medication without spreading the disease. But they have remained tight-lipped over the location of the planned centres.
Last week the first recorded case of swine flu in the Shrewsbury area was confirmed at the Mary Webb Sports Centre in Pontesbury, and health secretary Andy Burnham has since claimed if current trends continue there could be around 100,000 cases of swine flu recorded nationally per day by the end of August.
A number of PCTs across the country have already issued guidance on antiviral collection points, and health bosses in Shropshire have made advice available for people showing symptoms of the illness.
Fred Harris, president of Shrewsbury Chess Club which uses the rooms, said hospital staff had told club members they would be relocated elsewhere in the hospital as the rooms were needed as part of the fight against swine flu.
Another club member, who did not wish to be named, said he had gone to the building to collect club equipment and found the room, usually used for seminars and teaching, full of new computers.
A spokesperson for Shropshire County PCT said: “In-line with national guidance and along with every other Primary Care Trust (PCT) in England, Shropshire County PCT has developed plans to implement antiviral collection points across Shropshire, should they be needed.
“If anyone has flu-like symptoms, then the current advice is that they phone through to NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or call their GP. They should not go to their doctors surgery or to accident and emergency. This will help to reduce the spread of the virus.”
EXCLUSIVE by Peter Kitchen
