SWINE flu arrangements in north-east Essex have been scaled back.

Anti-viral collection points at Fryatt Hospital, in Harwich, and Kennedy Way, in Clacton, were closed yesterday.

Opening hours for the collection point at Colchester Primary Care Centre, in Turner Road, have been cut to 7am to 11pm, instead of 24 hours a day.

The telephone co-ordination centre, based at the Primary Care Centre, has also scaled back its opening times to 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Mike Cable, emergency planning lead officer for NHS North East Essex, said: “There has been a country-wide drop in the number of swine flu cases both in terms of calls to GPs, the national pandemic flu line and our own co-ordination centre. As a result, we have scaled down the number of swine flu centres.

“We have retained a core of experienced staff and if the swine flu situation should develop, we will quickly be able to establish the centres again.”

He added the pharmacies which were designated as collection points would still remain in case they were needed in future.

July saw 5,100 anti-virals dispensed in north Essex, but this has dropped to 762 so far in August.

A total of 1,386 anti-virals were given out by NHS Mid Essex, which covers Braintree, Maldon and Chelmsford, in the first week the collection points opened on July 22. This dropped to 981 in the week ending August 7.

NHS Mid Essex has cut the opening times for the anti-viral collection point at St Peter’s Hospital in Spital Road, Maldon. It will be open from 10am until noon and 5pm until 7pm, but closed at weekends.

Dr Divine Nzuobontane, consultant in public health at NHS Mid Essex, said: “We’ve seen a steadier flow of flu friends coming to collect anti-virals over the past few days and the weekends have been quiet. It’s important we use resources responsibly and we don’t bring staff in to work extra hours unnecessarily.”

The collection point at St Michael’s Hospital, in Braintree, will open Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 8pm but weekend opening hours have been cut to 10am until 4pm.

l Anyone who thinks they have swine flu is asked to call 0800 1513100.