Biologics during covid 19

[Bsr92]

Just wondered if people have received any guidance on how they will be continuing biologics over the coming months? I’ve had letters to say my appointments cancelled but was reassured it was continuing and they will get in touch. However I’m still receiving messages to say cancelled.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

I’m getting my delivered to me and will be self administering from now on. I got a call from my local hosp (they are the ones who usually stab me 😋), and they were the one to arrange it. Today had to do some chasing cause I hadn’t heard anything and I’m due it tomorrow, but now it’s sorted.

Hope that helps

[Riff1954 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi

How did you get them to agree to give you the self-administration pens? My wife is on mepolizumab (next jab due Wednesday) and has asked both her respiratory consultant and the nurse who administers it to her and both said it was not possible. We live in the north east and recently saw this article newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/... so thought it would be a simple request. Not so!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Riff1954]

I was offered. I live in Norfolk and my hosp and spec hosp was already focused on getting us treated as locally as possible. For example, I think I only had the first 3 injections (the loading dose that needs observation) at my spec hosp, before I was sent back to local to get them, and local had been talking about self administering from the start, they were just waiting on NICE to approve it. I think it’s because travel is so great to get to the hosps. As I can’t drive, my local hosp is a 3hr round trip to get it (my spec hosp is over a 6hr round trip). Initially they were talking about a district nurse or GP surgery doing it but with the current climate it’s gone straight to self administering 😅

Hope that helps

[Mintoes]

I’ve been on home self admin of Mepo for a few months, had my next 3 months supply delivered today so sorted for the 12 weeks. It’s so easy to do and no hanging around.

[MikeWhite]

Royal Brompton London contacted me yesterday and advised that they would send my Xolair to me to be self administered.

[Mogget]

I’m on Xolair and was called into the hospital last week to be taught how to use it and then given a 4 month supply to take home with me. I hope you manage to get yours sorted 🤞

[jap0127]

hi , i have an appointment with the rheumatolot had the letter to say its cancelled but will get a phone call instead ,i"m also on biologics imraldi i inject myself every 2 weeks and my next batch are being delivered on the 13th the lady said they are classed as an essential service so you will get them one way or another

[Clanmacbeath]

I attend the Freeman hospital in the NE and they have supplied me with some injections to self administer. Sadly the're not the pen style ones. But Im sure Ill manage. I dont want to go to hospital for any reason right now.

[MrsCMK]

Hey. I had my last Xolair appointment on Thursday and I have my next one in 4 weeks. It felt wrong being there, I was the only patient on the unit but glad it wasn’t cancelled.

[HoppyNurse]

I have to travel to the hospital for my next injection - it’s only my 2nd and still need monitoring such as bloods etc. Did consider driving there but they don’t have a car park at all and I would have to park in an NCP which charges ridiculous prices.

[Bsr92]

Thanks for all your replies, finally got in touch with my centre and appointments for biologics are still going ahead and they are going to call the day before to confirm 🙂