Covid-19 access to treatment changes
People at the greatest risk of serious illness from Covid-19 will be able, if eligible, to continue to access treatments to help manage Covid-19 symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill, through a local Covid Medicine Delivery Unit service.
People will be able to access the service locally through their GP practice in the first instance who will refer you to the closest Covid Medicine Delivery Unit service. People will no longer be automatically contacted by the NHS about treatments after reporting a positive Covid-19 test result.
Outside of GP opening times, people can contact NHS 111 for referral.
If people are unable to reach their local GP, they can contact their hospital specialist, if they have one.
The NHS has written to people in the highest risk groups to inform them of these changes.
Who may be able to have a Covid-19 treatment?
You may be eligible for Covid-19 treatments if all of the following apply:
- You are at highest risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19.
- You have symptoms of Covid-19 within the last five days and showing no signs of improvement.
- You have tested positive for Covid-19.
A healthcare professional will confirm if you are eligible for treatment.
More information about specific conditions is available on the NHS website.
What are the treatments?
Treatments include neutralising monoclonal antibody (nMAB) or antiviral treatments.
Some treatments come as capsules or tablets that you swallow. Others are given to you through a drip in your arm (infusion), in a GP practice.
Detailed information can be found on the NHS website.
How to get Covid-19 treatment
If you’re eligible for treatment, you will need to follow the process below:
- You should keep lateral flow tests at home, but only use them if you get symptoms. If you’re eligible for free rapid lateral flow tests, you can now collect them from a local pharmacy. This is replacing the online and telephone ordering services for free rapid lateral flow tests provided by gov.uk and NHS 119. The pharmacy may ask you about your medical history to confirm you’re eligible for free tests.If you have a copy of a letter or email sent to you by the NHS that says you’re eligible for Covid-19 treatment, take this with you. A letter or email is not essential, but it will help the pharmacy to confirm you’re eligible for free tests more easily.Someone else can collect free tests on your behalf, for example, a friend, relative or carer. If you do not have a friend, relative or carer who can collect your tests for you, you may be able to book a volunteer responder by calling 0808 196 3646.
Anyone collecting free tests on your behalf needs to give the pharmacy your details, including your:
• full name
• address
• date of birth
• NHS number (if available)
• medical condition(s) to confirm your eligibilityThey should also bring any copies of letters or emails that have been sent to you by the NHS about Covid-19 treatments.
You can also use tests purchased from a shop.
- If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, you should take a test immediately, even if your symptoms are mild.
- If your test is negative but you continue to have symptoms, you should take another test on each of the next two days (three tests in total over three days). You should report your test result where possible online or by calling 119, using your NHS number and postcode. You will not be able to report the result of a test purchased from a pharmacy or shop but this will not affect your access to an assessment for treatment.
- If you test positive, you should contact your GP practice as soon as possible so that they can consider referring you for an assessment for treatment. Outside of GP opening times, people can contact NHS 111 for referral. If people are unable to reach their local GP, they can contact their hospital specialist, if they have one.
Reporting lateral flow tests
You could report your test result online or by calling 119, using your NHS number and postcode. You will not be able to report the result of a test kit you’ve paid for, but this will not affect your access to an assessment for treatment.
More information is available on the NHS website.