A report has revealed that swine flu has caused four deaths at West Middlesex Hospital.

A legal battle against the Isleworth hospital has been launched by the family of one of the patients, who all died after contracting the H1N1 virus.

According to the hospital report, before February 2009, about 83 children and 131 adults were admitted with suspected swine flu but sources state that the figures might be more.

About six out of the confirmed 47 patients needed intensive care.

The report also states that protective equipment like masks faced problems in issuing.

Associate Professor Paul Kelly said, “There are cases that might be just a one-off but it is a warning. The early case was a timely alert that the swine flu would return to Australia over this winter and possibly again in 2011.”