Five patients critically ill with swine flu have been treated by experts at Glenfield Hospital.

They have all been in the "Ecmo" unit – the only one of its kind in the country for adults.

Two of the people, all under 25, are still receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Ecmo) treatment, which is proving effective in treating victims with severe lung failure.

It is only used when a patient is so ill their lungs cannot work properly even if they are on a ventilator.

Unit director Richard Firmin said: "Anyone on Ecmo is suffering very severe end of lung failure. We are expecting to see more people with swine flu as it is proving effective for some patients."

The treatment works by circulating the patient's blood outside the body and artificially adding oxygen.

Each patient needs two specially trained nurses to look after them.

None of the swine flu patients being treated at the unit have been from Leicestershire.

As well as the two patients currently being treated, two have now been sent home to recover. A further patient referred to the unit did not need the specialised procedure.

The five beds on the unit, which treats around 50 children and 50 adults a year, are full, which is why a woman from Scotland was flown to Sweden for the treatment under an international arrangement to share highly specialised facilities. The treatment costs between £55,000-£100,000 per patient and is funded by the Department of Health.

Mr Firmin, a consultant cardiac thoracic surgeon, said there may be scope to expand the unit to 10 beds if swine flu spreads, but it would have to be at the expense of another service.

The news comes as Church of England priests are being advised not to share the chalice at Holy Communion. Instead communicants will be offered just bread or bread dipped in wine by the priests. They are advised to use alcohol hand gel before handling the chalice.

The Rev Michael Smith, chaplain and policy advisor to the Bishop of Leicester, said: "There has only been one confirmed case of swine flu in the clergy and if parishioners are ill they should be at home." Dr Tim Davies, speaking on behalf of the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "GPs in Leicester are carrying out a high number of consultations for patients with influenza-like symptoms.

''Many of these people will not have swine flu and the number of consultations does not reflect the number of cases.

"We are not able to provide numbers for cases of suspected swine flu as many people with the illness will care for themselves at home without contacting their GP or needing medical help.

"Symptoms of the illness are mild for most people.

"We can monitor the numbers of anti-virals we have given to those with suspected swine flu and in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The number is around 5,000."