HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES is refusing to say at what point hospital wards would close if a large number of health professionals reported sick.

A spokesman said that while such an eventuality was a consideration in the department’s plans, it would not engage in public speculation.

In the UK, the British Medical Journal has predicted a shortage of intensive care beds for children with suspected swine flu. HSSD also declined to say how many paediatric intensive care beds Guernsey had.

Doctors are seeing an increase in the number of patients displaying flu-like symptoms but, as yet, no one has been admitted to hospital.

Currently, one GP practice is swabbing patients suspected of having swine flu. The spokesman said it had been a useful exercise to give the department an idea of the extent of the virus in the community as well as other viruses circulating.

‘With the cost of a test averaging about £50, it has also been a cost-effective way of operating. Last week, nine samples were sent for analysis – two were confirmed H1N1 [swine flu] and one for Influenza A.’

Schools across the island are still experiencing a high level of pupil absence due to flu-like illness.