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)!

What do you expect the vaccine uptake to be?

On prioritisation for vaccine, I will meet my counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Cardiff tomorrow and we will discuss this very issue. Our scientific advisors have given us advice about the priority higher risk groups and we will take a decision on whether to take this advice soon. Of course, as soon as we do we will make that information public. A lot depends on the speed of delivery and the licensing process. We also need to consider when we should vaccinate health and social care staff, alongside the priority risk groups.

Would it not be a good idea to immunise the workforce? Surely if this group of people get ill then services will suffer?

Will be called in alphabetical order?

Of course, the vaccine has to be properly tested. The licensing process will be carried out by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. It will get underway as soon as possible. It is important to remember that there is long experience of providing safe flu vaccines. Every year, the seasonal flu virus can mutate a little and require a new vaccine, so we are well used to dealing to situations of this kind.

Please answer the other questions on autism, smear tests etc. This chat seems to not be moving forward and ends shortly.

As asked 3 times before - can someone please ensure that all these questions are answered by next week?

C4 news reported earlier that they've only just started the testing process and it takes 7 months! so by my reckoning that takes us to early next year. Once testing has finished the vaccine still needs to be licenced for use here.

Justine MNHQ pleae can you try and get a promise out of Mr Burnham that his office will answer all of our questions. Also are there any plans to get the shadow health secretaries from the Lib Dems and Tories in, so they can tell us what they'd be doing?

My guess is that a lot of people were turned off politics by the expenses scandal - but are now suddenly very interested in the information coming out of govt depts re health and schools because SF will affect all of us. This is a chance for politicians to try regain the respect of the electorate.

Stigaloid, I thought the purpose of this webchat was specifically Swine Flu issues? But even if it isn't, I don't think he could possibly answer everything on every possible health question we have off the cuff.

I agree that I think the priority at the moment should be responding to our SF questions.

As a paramedic in city centre Manchester (who would be more than pleased to take you observing with us for a shift or two, to see the hassle we get, the number of SF cases, those who could have more appropriate care pathways etc..), we are run off our feet with SF cases at the moment. I'm sure it won't be long before we start dropping like flies with it ourselves, any chance of us getting the vaccine as priority ?

p.s. can't believe you still support Everton ! Did St Aelreds not teach you anything, I blame the teachers (my Dad)

Will the vaccinantions be given out before school starts back in Sept?

I thought it was a chat with the Health Minister and only asked as there seemed to be a lull in responses and whilst Swine Flu is important, I believe other posters questions on autism, vacinnes in general, cancer and smear tests are relevant health questions. Apologies if I mis-interpreted the chat.

blondie, not being in govt, the others won't know what they're doing. What they promise and what it is actually like managing a real and complex health crisis are entirely different things.

I don't like the fact that he is slow off the mark but I don't think the LibDems/Tories would be able to do anything but moan about what the govt are not doing.

Mr Burnham - thanks for answering earlier question on paediatric intensive care beds - I suspect you will just have to nick them from the adult wards in the event of an emergency! You still haven't answered my (and many others) questions on the under threes and vaccinations, however. How come they fall into the highest risk grouping but are not even mentioned under the priority vaccination program?

No you didn't it says in the opening post questions on swine flu and anything else.

rofl at a 'lull' in responses. Yes. It has been somewhat lull-like...

Not having a go at you for asking stig, and I do hope they do cross his desk anyhow (these other questions)

ah well at least i know being pregnant i have a chance of being ok but regards to my son well i will just have to wait till he gets this vaccine so i can see me keeping him of school till that happenes as we in scotland we are back in few weeks but i will take the consequences of keeping my son safe

OK. Off back to do some work now...

Thanks Andy for answering a few of our questions, though to reiterate blondieminx's appeal again: please would your office answer all the questions raised in this forum for publication on Mumsnet next week? Since the chat moved so slowly, it would be very helpful. Thanks again.

Thanks Andy for taking time to answer our questions,would it be possible for your Dept to place a post answering all SF questions that werent answered?

Thanks again.

Hi Vulpina... I thought it would be good (in the intersts of balanced debate) to see what the other parties would do if they were in government. The issue of how swine flu (and other major health issues such as smear tests, autism, cancer and coronary care) are dealt with is very important to most voters mothers' hearts!

You've broken the Dept of Health interweb with the weight of all your questions and it's down at the moment, so will be a slight delay.

Normal service will resume asap.

Is that it then, went really well i thought