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Source: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/146352-swine-flu-patient-dies/
Swine flu patient dies
Adult from Glasgow area becomes Scotland's 57th victim of swine flu.
23 December 2009 15:06 PM
Swine flu has claimed another life bringing the death toll in Scotland to 57.
An adult from the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board area died after contracting H1N1. They had underlying health problems.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Sadly, I confirm another H1N1 related death. My deepest sympathy are with the patient's family and friends at this time.
"We continue to urge everyone within the priority groups to come forward and accept the vaccination as the illness can be severe and unfortunately, in some cases, it can be fatal."
The latest death comes after a warning that Scotland could face a third wave of swine flu in the new year. Ms Sturgeon said the number of cases of H1N1 could rise again in the first few months of 2010.
She said a second wave of the illness was "now in decline". However, despite the drop in new cases in late 2009, she warned the country should remain vigilant.The virus has already claimed 56 lives across the country.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The last few weeks have seen a bit of a tail off in swine flu, and the experts would probably say we're over the peak of the second wave."
She added: "The planners in the NHS will have one eye on the possibility of a third wave at some point over the winter or into the spring."
Health chiefs are hoping that the vaccination of a "significant number of people" will help curb the spread of swine flu.
However, Ms Sturgeon insisted: "We do have to remain vigilant and historically flu pandemics have come in three waves, so we have had two, we may well get a third in the early part of the year, we don't know.
"But what we do know is the more people we get vaccinated in the intervening period, the less of an impact any third wave will have."
Ms Sturgeon also said planning for the health service over the busy winter period was "all the more important" because of swine flu.
As part of their preparations for the winter months, NHS chiefs have to organise staff numbers and rotas to cope with increased demand.
The Health Secretary will also be monitoring how many people are admitted to emergency wards and how many intensive care beds are available over the festive period.
She said: "There's a plan in place, for example, to increase critical care capacity should we need to.
"All health boards have plans in place to substantially increase their critical care capacity if required. Across Scotland we would be able to double critical care capacity if it turned out that was required."
Ms Sturgeon said that the last time there was a major flu outbreak in Scotland in the winter of 2001-01, the NHS had been "caught off guard".
However, she added: "Since then winter planning has got a lot better. We don't know what's round the corner but what I am confident of is that the NHS has got the right plans in place, it's got the right people in place and its got experience of dealing with the unexpected.
"But we've always got to be on our guard, vigilant and ready for the unexpected."
Last updated: 23 December 2009, 15:11
Swine flu patient dies
Adult from Glasgow area becomes Scotland's 57th victim of swine flu.
23 December 2009 15:06 PM
Swine flu has claimed another life bringing the death toll in Scotland to 57.
An adult from the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board area died after contracting H1N1. They had underlying health problems.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Sadly, I confirm another H1N1 related death. My deepest sympathy are with the patient's family and friends at this time.
"We continue to urge everyone within the priority groups to come forward and accept the vaccination as the illness can be severe and unfortunately, in some cases, it can be fatal."
The latest death comes after a warning that Scotland could face a third wave of swine flu in the new year. Ms Sturgeon said the number of cases of H1N1 could rise again in the first few months of 2010.
She said a second wave of the illness was "now in decline". However, despite the drop in new cases in late 2009, she warned the country should remain vigilant.The virus has already claimed 56 lives across the country.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The last few weeks have seen a bit of a tail off in swine flu, and the experts would probably say we're over the peak of the second wave."
She added: "The planners in the NHS will have one eye on the possibility of a third wave at some point over the winter or into the spring."
Health chiefs are hoping that the vaccination of a "significant number of people" will help curb the spread of swine flu.
However, Ms Sturgeon insisted: "We do have to remain vigilant and historically flu pandemics have come in three waves, so we have had two, we may well get a third in the early part of the year, we don't know.
"But what we do know is the more people we get vaccinated in the intervening period, the less of an impact any third wave will have."
Ms Sturgeon also said planning for the health service over the busy winter period was "all the more important" because of swine flu.
As part of their preparations for the winter months, NHS chiefs have to organise staff numbers and rotas to cope with increased demand.
The Health Secretary will also be monitoring how many people are admitted to emergency wards and how many intensive care beds are available over the festive period.
She said: "There's a plan in place, for example, to increase critical care capacity should we need to.
"All health boards have plans in place to substantially increase their critical care capacity if required. Across Scotland we would be able to double critical care capacity if it turned out that was required."
Ms Sturgeon said that the last time there was a major flu outbreak in Scotland in the winter of 2001-01, the NHS had been "caught off guard".
However, she added: "Since then winter planning has got a lot better. We don't know what's round the corner but what I am confident of is that the NHS has got the right plans in place, it's got the right people in place and its got experience of dealing with the unexpected.
"But we've always got to be on our guard, vigilant and ready for the unexpected."
Last updated: 23 December 2009, 15:11
