Swine flu plans help flood-hit practices cope.

GPs 'worked all weekend' to offer co-ordinated response to once-in-a-millennium Cumbrian floods.

Buddying-up plans developed to cope with swine flu have helped maintain services in practices hit by the flooding in Cumbria, GP can reveal.

NHS Cumbria's medical director, Dr Mike Bewick, a former GP, said GPs quickly put together a recovery team. They had 'worked all weekend' to provide additional services, he said.

Two of Cockermouth's three practices, serving 15,000 patients, were closed last Friday having been severely affected by flooding. Their services have been relocated to Cockermouth community hospital.

The town's third practice, which has …