A THIRD of GP practices in South Worcestershire have run out of flu vaccine and do not know whether they can have more from the country's dwindling supply.

Some patients in the at-risk groups, including those aged over 65 and people with diabetes, heart or lung disease, may have to be turned away if supplies are not available.

The Department of Health has told GPs that 400,000 'contingency' doses of the vaccine have nearly run out.

Janet Ferguson, of South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, said 10 practices were looking for contingency supplies, but would not know until the end of the week whether they could have them.

"They probably got a bigger take-up than they were expecting, but we always have some contingency supplies each year," she said.

Many people in South Worcestershire have already received their flu jabs, as 21 practices have completed their vaccination programmes.

At Haresfield House Surgery, Bath Road, Worcester, office manager Sue O'Neil said: "We have achieved our target of vaccinating 75 per cent of people at risk and we still have 60 doses left in case anyone else decides they want it."

The shortage of flu vaccine supplies has been criticised by Dr Laurence Buckman, deputy chairman of the BMA's GPs committee.

He said the annual uptake by patients eligible for free NHS flu immunisation was slightly above 70 per cent and this year it had been noticeably higher.

"There should be sufficient capacity in the supply system to ensure that those who need the protection of a winter flu jab can get it," he said.