National Flu Service: Your stories

People in England can phone 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

A National Flu Service has been launched, offering sufferers access to drugs on the phone and via the internet without the need to see a GP.

Here, BBC News website readers share their experiences of the service.

Erroll Roberts was prescribed anti-virals

I started to feel unwell on Wednesday and felt it was my responsibility to find out whether I'd got swine flu.

If it is the worst case scenario I need to do something about it. Partially due to the fact that it's just been launched I decided to ring the helpline. I think the guy I spoke to seemed a little uncomfortable and a little unsure about what he was doing.

But in general it was helpful - I was asked a series of questions and was told to collect Tamiflu.

I'm only 21 but I've had pneumonia twice so I thought I could be a high risk patient, and I have all the symptoms of swine flu.

I rang the hotline and it reeled off the symptoms and then just advised taking Paracetamol if I wasn't pregnant, under five or in a high risk category.

I said I might be a high risk patient but it kept putting me on hold and I couldn't get through to speak to anyone. I tried the NHS Direct line too and couldn't get through to them either. I'm now waiting to hear back from my GP.

I feel like I've been left in the dark a little.

As a GP, dealing with flu is becoming all consuming, and I fear it will soon start to be to the detriment of other more serious illnesses.

I had hoped that the national helpline was going to take the pressure off. The first patient of mine who got through to the helpline was told to get anti-virals using a code at a pharmacy.

But when he went to the pharmacy, he was told he couldn't get the medication because the pharmacy didn't yet have an access code. So, my patient rang the surgery and it was just another call for me to deal with.

As ever a new system is trumpeted but not everything is done to ensure it works before it's rolled out.

The overwhelming majority of people I speak to have simple symptoms. I'm not giving many people Tamiflu because it's not such an effective drug. I suspect that people phoning the new service will all be given Tamiflu.

Michael McAuley worries about risks to his family

I haven't got any symptoms of swine flu at the moment.

I was just trying to get hold of Tamiflu so I have it in the house to be on the safe side. I'm concerned as I have a young daughter and a pregnant girlfriend.

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