Panic over swine flu could place 'enormous pressure on NHS services'

Levels of healthcare within NHS hospitals could be placed in jeopardy through rising levels of panic over swine flu, the government's health secretary has acknowledged.

With growing numbers of cases of the virus being reported across the UK, Andy Burnham has moved to reassure the public that the NHS has long-standing plans in place to deal with increased demand for its services.

Speaking to the Observer, he also acknowledged that panic over the condition could place unnecessary pressure on some parts of the public health service, with staff set to be overworked despite the fact that, so far, the seriousness of swine flu has only been relatively mild.

"If people are made unnecessarily anxious, it makes the lives of NHS professionals, who are already under enormous pressure, far more difficult as people become unduly worried," Mr Burnham said.

At the same time, the Times has reported that rising demand for NHS services could lead to many women being denied the option of a home birth or planned Caesarean section as midwives take time off through illness.

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