A 47 year old man has been flown from South West Acute Hospital to a hospital in Leicester that specialises in treating patients with swine flu.

Glenfield Hospital is the only hospital in the United Kingdom that provides extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for both adults and children.

ECMO is used when a patient has a critical condition, such as the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, which prevents the lungs or heart from working normally.

It’s understood that there are currently four adults and a child on the ECMO unit at the hospital.

A spokeswoman for University Hospitals of Leicester has confirmed to this newspaper that a male patient at South West Acute Hospital was flown to Glenfield by helicopter on Saturday night.

Neither the University Hospitals of Leicester nor the Western Health and Social Care Trust would confirm if the patient is being treated for suspected swine flu.

“The Western Trust cannot comment on the individual treatment and care of our patients and clients,” said a spokeswoman.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) would not comment either, but did want to remind people about the dangers associated with catching influenza H1N1.

“Every year, during the winter period, several strains of seasonal influenza virus circulate in the community. In 2009, a new flu virus emerged called influenza H1N1, which at the time was also known as ‘swine flu’. Since 2009, influenza H1N1 virus has become one of the common seasonal influenza viruses in circulation in Northern Ireland, the UK and around the world.

“Protection against influenza H1N1 is contained within the seasonal flu vaccine that is offered free to over-65s, pre-school children aged between two and four years old, all primary school-aged children and individuals in “at risk” groups, such as pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions like asthma or heart conditions,” said the spokesman.

The PHA is encouraging anyone in these groups who have not yet received their vaccination to contact their GP to arrange an appointment. Most recent statistics indicate that in the week ending February 14, 2016, there were 29.9 per 100,000 people accessing primary care with flu-like illness.

“This is still substantially below the threshold that indicates the start of significant influenza circulation in the community, measured at 49.4 per 100,000 population,” said the spokesman.