HEALTH bosses in north Essex have hit back at claims they are not providing enough centres where drugs to combat swine flu can be collected.

The Conservative Party has criticised the Government’s provision of centres for people to pick up antiviral drugs.

They claimed there were only three points in Colchester and Tendring, while in ten primary care trust areas there are more than 30 collection points each.

But North East Essex Primary Care Trust said antiviral drugs could also be collected at another 14 community pharmacies.

Spokesman Peter Richardson said: “We have three swine flu centres where people can collect antiviral drugs if they have been prescribed, as well as gain advice and information.

“But on top of that, there are 14 community pharmacies which are also able to hand out antivirals, but only once the person has been through the system or called the flu-line. People cannot just walk in off the street.

“We have 17 outlets in total, which is the best in East Anglia, and if we need to increase that number we can.”

Health Secretary Andy Burnham has written to all MPs to tell them where antiviral collection points are located, but he asked that details not be released to the public because they “do not want people to go to antiviral collection points who do not need them”.

Stephen O’Brien, shadow health minister, said there was no clear link between the number of cases of swine flu or the rurality of an area and the number of collection points.

He said: “These figures are a genuine and fair concern and raise further questions about the Government’s handling of swine flu.”