GP makes national press with swine flu story

GP newspaper’s splash about the cost of swine flu forcing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to cut services received widespread media coverage this morning.

Based on a Freedom of Information request, the story revealed that responding to the pandemic cost PCTs £340,000 each on average and trusts had to cut services or use contingency funds to meet shortfalls. Around one in six PCTs (16 per cent) had to cut funding for other services to pay for the response.

The Telegraph, Times, Guardian, Mail, Mirror, Metro and the Express – along with several local papers – all covered the story.

It was also reported on Radio Five Live, and GP’s deputy news editor Tom Moberly, who wrote the story, was interviewed for Sky News and BBC Radio Leeds.

GP editor Emma Bower said: “It’s great that GP’s splash got picked up by the media today – especially as there’s an election on! Tom came up with a great idea for a story and the results of the FOI confirmed his suspicions. He’s done a fantastic job in the interviews, talking journalists through the figures he collected.”