Ex-staff called on in flu plan

Shropshire's two main hospitals are planning to use former front-line staff to help them with any big surge in swine flu cases.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust is asking staff who now work in administrative roles but had "specialist skills" to volunteer to help.

At present services at the trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, have not been greatly affected by the virus.

It is utilising the private Apley Ward at the PRH as an isolation facility for patients who are admitted with suspected swine flu.

Adrian Osborne, trust spokesman, said today: "We are looking at a range of contingencies to ensure critical services are able to continue to operate in the event swine flu leads to increased demand on our services.

"For instance, this includes identifying staff who work for the trust who have specialist skills, such as ITU or paediatric care.

"In our quarterly newsletter that we issue to staff, for example, we are asking those with specialist skills to alert their line manager."

Meanwhile the number of new swine flu cases in England will be released today.

Latest Health Protection Agency figures show that, in the week ending July 19, an estimated 100,000 Britons were infected with swine flu.