SWINE flu cases have dramatically dropped across Basildon and Thurrock over the past two weeks, meaning one of the two Tamiflu collection centres will close.

However in Southend and Castle Point, “vulnerable” patients have been directed to additional collection points which have been set up in response to a rise in the number of people needing the drug.

NHS chiefs have decided to shut the antiviral collection point at Grays Health Centre in Brooke Road, Grays, which opened last month.

Along with the Craylands Clinic in Basildon, the centre has been a place for friends and relatives of people struck down by the bug to pick up stocks of the drug.

However, last week, after a drop in reported cases, the centre’s opening hours were cut and from Monday it will cease giving out Tamiflu tablets altogether.

The Craylands clinic will continue to be open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.

Dr Katherine Gronqvist, director of Public Health at NHS South West Essex, stressed swine flu locally is being monitored, especially in light of predictions from some health chiefs that a second wave of cases could strike this winter.

She said: “Of course, if demand for antivirals increases in this area, we will re-open the Grays centre. We are monitoring demand closely.”

In Southend and Castle Point most people are directed to the Leigh Primary Care Centre to pick up Tamiflu, but some patients are being told to go to other, undisclosed collection points.

Andrea Atherton, director of public health for NHS South East Essex, said: “We have ensured a number of antiviral collection points are available for ‘at-risk’ groups or those who required a GP assessment. Such people will have been directed to relevant collection points by their GP.”

As at July 29, NHS South West Essex saw 2,124 antivirals collected during the previous week.

As at 5 August, 1,303 antivirals were collected during the previous week.

As at 12 August, 612 antivirals were collected during the previous week.