Sacked from swine flu centre - for catching swine flu

A Bristol University student was sacked from her holiday job working in a swine flu call centre – after she caught the virus herself.

Emily Morgan became ill during her first shift at one of the offices set up to deal with calls to the National Pandemic Flu Service.

The 21-year-old was later diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and prescribed Tamiflu.

She phoned in sick the next day, but when she returned to the Plymouth office 10 days later Miss Morgan said she was told she had lost her job.

The international business student said: "It's kind of ironic. I feel I would have been better at the job now because I'd know what people were going through.

"I was relying on that job to pay for my next year of university, so I'm quite worried. I really need a full-time job. I thought the whole organisation would be more sympathetic to being off with swine flu."

Miss Morgan started working at the call centre on July 23, earning £6 an hour.

She was working alongside 350 people talking to the public about symptoms and prescribing anti-viral drugs over the phone. Her condition was complicated by the fact she has type 1 diabetes.

She needed 10 days to recover but when she got back to work on August 2 she was stopped at the door by as burly security guard.

Miss Morgan said: "I rang them several times and they were well aware I had swine flu, and kept telling me to get well soon.

"I couldn't believe it when I turned up and I was told to hand in my security pass.

"They've given me no explanation. I felt rotten with swine flu and then I got the sack. I'm very disappointed."

Miss Morgan had been employed through recruitment agency Reed.

A spokesman said: "There are procedures to follow in cases of absenteeism to keep the call centre operator properly informed."

No one from the call centre was available for comment.