Has anyone else suddenly received an email from the NHS stating that health experts have looked at health conditions that put people at more risk from coronavirus and that they have been agreed by U.K. chief MOs
It then says they are contacting me because my medical records currently show I have one or more of these health conditions and that treatments might be suitable for me should I test positive for coronavirus.
There there is a lots of info about coronavirus, sending me a lateral flow to keep if I ever need to test etc.
Have rung my surgery and they know nothing and it has come from NHS direct. Advised me to ring 119. Receptionist wondered if it was my Afib. I haven’t rung 119 but googled it. Seems there is a new tool that’s just been approved for assessing patients at risk. Couldn’t see a date of when it was approved so might be old news. It’s called a QCOVID. If it is recent then I’m guessing this now maybe includes people with Afib where it didn’t before.
Just curious and wondered if anyone else has had one. I have no other conditions that puts me at risk.
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Frances123
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I had that email followed by a letter with a test kit - but about 12 months ago because I do have another condition that puts me at extreme risk. Everything I had was from NHS Direct so nothing to do with your GP - however - your GP should have a record if you are on the very vulnerable list. Not sure I would take the treatment anyway judging from the latest research and having had COVID and been quite ill with it + 6 jabs I’m hoping I have enough immunity now.
If you have no other no condition maybe it’s a mistake?
Thank you. Only other conditions I have are acid reflux of 16 years and breast cancer, 5 years ago and clear. Neither putting me in the at risk area and both pre covid.
My wife had one similar at Christmas to say that she could receive free test kits and extra treatment. We got the free kits but the extra treatment came to nil.
Basically it was to say that if I contracted covid in order to protect me to contact them as soon as possible to have the antiviral treatment so that I wouldn’t be too ill
I did have covid last September/October then covid induced chest infection then covid induced pneumonia. By the time I was sent by my GP to hospital and acute illness clinic for covid it was too late for the antiviral treatment
I believe the purpose of this latest letter from NHS is to advise people with medical problems to contact them asap if they test positive for covid
Thank you. I would just like to know what has supposedly changed in my medical history as it’s news to me 🤔. I had covid about a year ago and I have had worse colds. I know it might be different if I was unlucky enough to get it again.
I had a similar e mail in Jan 2023 and was concerned that someone viewed me as very vulnerable. I dont think I am ! I have recently been diagnosed with now well controlled AF
( with bisoprolol ) and a blocked Central Retinal Vein. I pass 70 next month.
I investigated ( like a terrier chasing a rat ! ) Surgery told me it was a mistake, NHS adamant GP has responded to a request from them for info re their patient list. According to NHS GP had forwarded my name.
I cant find out the truth but I cynically think that if there was a fee attached to names passed forward, my GP practice would have stretched the list as far as they could. I am an elderly co morbid patient. Hey Ho
The current service I am getting from my ( new ) GP does not re assure me. My old GP retired last yr...... I do miss her skill, availability and her willingness to treat me like a knowledgeable non clinician . In the dark ages of the 1970 s I did a short course of human anatomy, along side my social science degree.
We all know things have changed and become even more challenging in Primary Care but my experience with my new GP................
Thank you. I’m sorry you are having difficulties with your GP service and hope something can be sorted soon.
I’m going to email NHS and ask how come after all these years with no change did they now think I was at a possible risk. Surgery knows nothing. As long as it doesn’t affect my travel insurance in any way and have to pay more then I’ll leave it.
That sounds worrying to be put on a list! I also have A fib, and had a central retinal vein occlusion three years before diagnosis. Treated with injections luckily, and I just go for occasional checks.
We would like to visit our daughter in Canada again at some point, and that sounds a lot for insurance! We added my A fib and my husband’s (treated) prostate cancer to our general travel insurance. I must admit that I never thought about the CRVO!
Thank you. Ive always declared everything. It might cost a bit more but it’s so worth it is something happens. I’m seeing my gp in 2 weeks so will ask her then what in her mind has warranted this and mention travel insurance.
I will definitely do that. We have travel insurance linked to our bank account, but if we do manage to get to Canada again, or even get away to the continent, I shall update further before booking. We did update it generally last year, but I’ve realised that making sure we do this when organising is important.
I think I forgot about the CRVO as it was all organised through the optometrist rather than my GP. She did mention that it’s a ‘wee warning sign’ and that the eye hospital would do lots of tests. Though in the end I had to find our which blood tests were recommended, then ask the health centre to do them. I’m fairly sure that my undiagnosed A Fib was the culprit.
I had forgotten possible effect on travel insurance! opps!
Husband and I are both considered co morbid with our various conditions, both age 70 this year. ( his cancer now " cured " He is 5 ys post treatment and off surveillance )
I was uninsurable until 2 months ago, when a high level of annual cover for both, initially a 3 week Canadian trip , has cost us almost £3 K from a specialist company.
It took ages to sort out, horrid to have to relive everything, in order to provide all details . I never thought to tell them about the vulnerable notification.
I wont now as the GP s official line is its a mistake. BUT that was a verbal message from a receptionist, nothing in writing !
Different topic..... I am now aware that I am even more reluctant to contact GP, as I fear I would rapidly become uninsurable again.
This is not a safe mind set to be in as The Patient does not have the skill to judge when a new symptom needs dealing with quickly. As a family with a history of blood in poo ( which cd have been harmless haemorrhoids,) we know how important a quick response is.
NHS at its best, so quick he only had surgery, no chemo.
New symptoms are not so readily judged by the untrained .
Does this dilemma ring any bells with others ? I think the insurence industry needs more regulation, in order to be more useful to folk with previous conditions.
I’m quite annoyed now! I am 78, with AF and asthma so I think I should have had a letter. When I had COVID in October I was trying to nurse my ill husband but didn’t ask for treatment as I didn’t think I’d get any. It took months for my lungs to recover ☹️ So now I feel neglected…….
In the US, age is considered the biggest risk factor. Prescribers are advised to consider anyone 50 and over as eligible for antivirals, but especially those 65 and up. In addition, CDC cites a long list of medical conditions like diabetes, immune disorders, etc to add to the risk profile. Here's a link, if interested. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc...
Yes I thought age was one of the biggest risks so that would mean lots of us oldies would get this from just (still) being here My wife has asthma, bronchiectasis (as do I) and an aspergillus nodule in her left lung but was not considered at any greater risk by the NHS here in Wales but was by the hospital treating her - the National Aspergillosis Centre in Wythenshawe.
I am sorry that you were so ill Buffafly, I think you would benefit from a fast response to any repeat Covid infection . Can you ask yr GP if you can be referred ? Good luck
I to go the email and lateral flow kit. Strange when nothing has change yet during the height of covid I was expected to work face to face with patients and only removed from the actual covid ward, plus told to sit near an open window in the office.
it’s a mystery, maybe nhs direct has to many lateral flow kits left and anti viral treatments, so is offloading them by redefining the parameters of who’s vulnerable.
Interesting. I was clinlcally extremely vulnerable during COVID but I haven't received a letter. I have had my five COVID vaccinations + flu jab though.
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My wife has asthma, bronchiectasis (as do I) and an aspergillus nodule in her left lung but was not considered at any greater risk by the NHS here in Wales but was by the hospital treating her - the National Aspergillosis Centre in Wythenshawe.
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