MORE than 250 health officials attended a Staffordshire Swine Flu Pandemic Conference yesterday.

The event at Uttoxeter racecourse was organised by the county council and the Joint Commissioning Unit – a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and NHS North Staffordshire.

Delegates from private care homes learned how they should prepare for dealing with swine flu. The conference featured three workshops dealing with specific issues relating to the pandemic.

County Councillor Matthew Ellis, cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, opened the event.

He said: "Swine flu offers enormous challenges, both to the country and for Staffordshire. By working together the independent, voluntary and public sectors can help mitigate the effects."

Other speakers were Allison Heseltine, Infection Control lead at South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, Andy Marshall, director of Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit and Ian James who is the director of the Joint Commissioning Unit.