The Government hotline has certainly decreased enquiries to the practice… however it was interesting that one patient rang us after being asked by the hotline whether he was unconscious (I have never known anyone manage to us the telephone when unconscious, but modern mobile phones do have amazing gadgetry these days) and when asked whether he was dribbling at the mouth, a positive response resulted in him being told to phone immediately for an ambulance.

Perhaps the Influenza flow chart got mixed up with the one for rabies? Fortunately he had the sense to phone us to check. Moral of story is, if you think you have Rabies, don’t phone the flu hotline !