Specific pharmacies in each London borough have begun stocking Tamiflu and other anti-swine flu drugs.

The move comes as the number of cases of people infected with the virus increases.

Some 528 people in the capital have contracted the virus.

A spokesperson for NHS London said: "All primary care trusts in London have identified at least one pharmacy in their borough that is stocked ready with anti-viral drugs for people to collect when instructed to do so by their GP.

"GPs will clinically assess people with flu-like symptoms to determine who needs treatment."

Meanwhile, ministers have abandoned the use of a pandemic alert system for swine flu because the virus does not pose a serious-enough threat to public health.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said there has been no sustained community transmission of the virus.