The Swine Flu hotline is 0800 1 513 513 and people ringing it are given a number of options to answer their questions.
The aim of the flu service set up by the Government is to alleviate pressure on hospitals and GP services in England so they could concentrate on the most seriously ill and the Government was the trusting the public not to abuse the service.
People will obtain a diagnosis over the telephone or by completing an internet questionnaire.
They will then be given a reference number for a ‘flu friend’ who can obtain the antiviral dug from a depot instead of the sufferer, which should help preventing the spread of the virus.
Any member of staff sick with a suspected or confirmed case of swine flu should be told to stay at home. But employees are not legally entitled to stay away from work simply out of fear of contracting the virus.
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