SWINE flu will add to a winter cocktail of illnesses in our hospitals but prisons will keep running say health chiefs.

Dr Richard Harling, director of public health, admitted there was concern about the potential impact of swine flu and other illnesses on the local health service when he addressed a meeting of NHS Worcestershire.

Swine flu is expected to come on top of seasonal flu and the winter vomiting bug norovirus which caused unprecedented pressure on the health service last winter.

Dr Harling said: “It’s quiet at the moment but the expectation is that it will pick up.

“There’s huge concern nationally about what the autumn and winter may bring.

“At the moment the swine flu virus remains no more serious than normal flu but it will come on top of seasonal flu and other winter viruses and the cold snap.

“That means we may have a very bad winter in terms of the number of mainly vulnerable elderly people becoming unwell and requiring some sort of care within the national health system.”

Concern was also raised about the impact of swine flu on Worcestershire’s prison population such as the inmates of Long Lartin, near Evesham, and Blakenhurst in Redditch.

But Paul Bates, chief executive of NHS Worcestershire, said he had been reassured the prison service would be able to cope, even if staff were struck down with swine flu.

A vaccination is expected to become available by October and those who will be eligible include health and social care staff, vulnerable people and those with long term medical conditions.

The groups given priority for vaccination will be in “at-risk groups” including all pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and people aged over 65.

GP surgeries will “buddy-up” with each other to maintain as much of a service as possible while staff are off sick.

But yesterday health chiefs decided to close the swine flu antiviral collection points (ACPs) in Kidderminster and Redditch following a downturn in demand.

The Worcester ACP remains open from 9.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Flu patients should call the National Pandemic Flu Service advice line on 08001 513100, log on to direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or contact their GP for assessment rather than turn up at the ACP directly.

If they need antiviral treatment they will be given the address of Worcester ACP so that they can send a 'flu friend' along to collect their medication.