Live webchat with Health Secretary Andy Burnham today (Weds 22 July) 2.30-3.30pm

[HelenMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, will be joining us on Mumsnet tomorrow (Wednesday 22 July) between 2.30pm and 3.30pm for a live webchat, during which he's promised to answer your questions about swine flu (and anything else you'd like to know).

Andy has been Health Secretary since June this year. He is also MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, was born in Liverpool, has three children, supports Everton and, apparently, plays a mean riff on the guitar.

Because of the last-minute scheduling of this webchat, we're NOT taking advance questions, so stand by your keyboards at 2.30pm tomorrow (or get someone else to ask your question if you can't be there)!

I can't make it either &, for once, have a question that I really would like an answer to:

Swine flu not only a particular hazard to pregnant mums but also to the under 5's. Why then does the government not advocate closing of school nurseries when a case is found?

SM,

don't you know by now this government brings in legislation to enable the SS to steal
take children into care so they can indoctronate bring them up to state values?

Us mothers are just breeding vessles, not educated in the ways of socialist Labour teachings on how children should behave, what their values should be, where as Labour have been social engineering molding children for the past 12 years to their standards. Which is why we have so many lost violent dumbed down well adjusted children now.

Are Mr Burnhams children going to be vaccinated in the first 'untested' wave to come from the manufacturer or is he going to wait until the vaccine has been proven before allowing his children to have the shots?

Has his children been vaccinated with the MMR or did he opt for single doses?

Does he believe it is right to carry on innoculating teenage girls against cirvical cancer in light of the deaths and paralysis that have occured when many of these girls would not have gone on to get cancer in the first place?

Mr Burnham, I just wanted to echo Sarlights question.

Early intervention for autism is a proven key to successful outcomes for autistic children so...

WHEN will the government step-up their early investigation and diagnosis?,

When will the government actually put together a real programme for professionals to work to?

When will the government recognise that support to the whole family, for all disabilities, is another key?

When will parent-carer's be given more support to access programmes?

I am quite nervous about swine flu as am pregnant and have a 2 year old. Will vaccines be available to us and if so when? How do we know that vaccinnes won't hurt my unborn baby?

How many of the pregnant women who have died did not have underlying health problems?

Are there figures available on how many pregnant women with swine flu have miscarried?

Shocking! Basically you will be MADE to vaccinate your child. Blimey that Torchwood episode comes to mind [shock}

I'm a hcp, I'm already aware of the strain on critical care beds during a normal winter, I feel extremely anxious about this winter as there will simply not be enough itu/hdu beds available.

Could Mr Burnham tell us the proportion of pregnant women who contracted swine flu that have died? We've heard how many pregnant women have died but not how many pregnant women contracted it that only had mild symptoms and were ok.

Could Mr Burnham tell us the proportion of pregnant women who contracted swine flu that have been ok? We've heard how many pregnant women have died but not how many pregnant women contracted it that only had mild symptoms and were ok.

Mr Burnham, please could you ensure that your staff update the swine flu advice line with the correct number to call to access treatment? This simple point would do much to reduce the confusion that is upsetting so many people.

I'm 15 weeks pregnant and last Wednesday I fell ill with the flu. I rang the number on the Swine Flu information leaflet all households have received and the recorded message told me to ring my GP - so I did.

The receptionist there told me to ring NHS direct or the "local co-ordination centre". I queried which of the 2 she'd recommend - she said ring the co-ordination centre. I queued for 15 mins but then spoke to a very helpful man who prescribed Relenza and suggested I also contact my midwife.

In addition to Leningrad's questions, please could you also outline what continuity planning is being undertaken in hospitals to ensure that this country's already overstretched midwifery service gets support so that midwives are there when we need them when the time comes to deliver our babies?

Also please could you confirm whether hospitals will be given guidance to offer reassurance scans to mothers-to-be who have taken Relenza (bearing in mind the lack of data about this drug)?

While I realise you may not be able to offer answers to these questions straight away, I would expect your office to research, co-ordinate and provide FULL answers to all of our questions to be posted on this site within the next few days (and certainly before next Wednesday) if you are really committed to the idea of open, accessible government for all and to providing information to reassure us. Thank you.

Also, worried that other serious conditons may get overlooked by GP..eg meningitits, similar symptoms

I believe that there is vast over-diagnosis of Swine Flu going on in hot spot areas. Children who have the slightest temperature and any two other symptoms are diagnosed with it and handed Tamiflu which many of them probably don't need. Surely this means the figures are over-estimates of the true spread of the disease?

I'd like to know what proportion of swabbed suspected cases have actually tested positive for SF (I believe that small numbers are still being swabbed) and what proportion actually had other illnesses.

test test

Is he on his way MNHQ?

Live questions yet? Could Mr Burnham tell us the proportion of pregnant women who contracted swine flu that have been ok? We've heard how many pregnant women have died but not how many pregnant women contracted it that only had mild symptoms and were ok.

I have read thet it would be best NOT to close schools in september and allow children to get immunity before the the winter version of a flu appears, do have any comment on this?

Oh, that'll be a yes.

Hi.

We are exercised about the possibility of school closures in the autumn. Could you clarify the govt's position on this and let us know what factors will influence the decision to do so, how such a policy would be applied, whether it will also apply to other settings where children will gather (childcare settings, play settings etc)?

Could you clarify if this is indeed a potential decision, what protections will be in place to protect working parents' employment rights?

Why can I not get an appointment to see a GP at my local practice (except for WEEKS in advance) except by ringing up at 8am on the dot for an 'emergency' appointment on the day? This was the same at my last GP practice as well before we moved area and I'm told it's so that they hit targets. Are you looking at fixing this?

Hello Andy.
Welcome to Mumsnet.

Lots of us are pregnant right now and we don't feel like we're getting a lot of information about how the illness affects the majority of pregnant women. For instance, how many only get mild symptoms? How many have miscarried?

Mr Burnham, I notice you are MP for Leigh - do you enjoy a bowl of lobbies for tea sometimes?

If you are ever in Asda do say hello to my sister

i want to know what the underlying health conditions that the people are dying from are? my son has heart defect im worried sick hes fought for life im not losing him to this virus!