Is anyone able to tell me the process of getting the antivirals. I called 111 who told me they were too busy and to contact my GP. Contacted my GP and they were unsure but I have been referred to a COVID unit and have been given a code and password but on the letter they have till the 12th July to call me. So concerned it’s the wrong place.
It’s the letter that is concerning me, how was everyone else referred?
Thanks
Hi A friend of mine tested positive last week and she had to register the test online and then someone phoned her within 24hrs to arrange the delivery which she received in a few hours. X
From what I know you have to have the anti virals within days of testing positive. I'd phone your GP surgery this morning to check.
Call 119…..they seem to run the rule book! GP’s are only required to refer you to the CMDU which sounds as if that is what they have done.
Am interested in this as I’ve just testing positive this morning too. So far I have contacted 119 who have said I’ll get a phone call within 24 hours to discuss medication etc. Do we also have to contact GPs?
Which option did you press on 119? I couldn’t find one that applied
Option 1 to report the test to test and trace and then about 10 different avenues to eventually speak to someone from there but just followed it through methodically!
Hi Kerry Ann, just a heads up as I had also reported my test to 119 test and trace yesterday I called them as I hadn’t heard anything and they said I am to contact my GP or 111 if you don’t hear back in 24 hours so you may want to get on the front foot with it
Thank you. Have called my GP and they have said to wait for the call and to contact them / 111 in the morning if I haven’t heard anything.
No worries the whole thing is a bit hit and miss. I am not overly stressed as just have cold symptoms. But would like to get them as apparently they can help prevent any long covid side effects etc. Think we can agree we all have enough going on without any side effects from COVID! My husband is down with it too and he seems worse than me. It’s his second time, but my first. Bound to happen though as we are back in our normal lives!
Rheumatology organised mine.
Ok, I called 111 as that’s what the letter I had from the NHS told me to do. They said call the GP who were very reluctant to help
But I think I have been referred to a Covid medical deliveries unit And I am awaiting the call.
I also uploaded my test on test and trace and had a message saying someone would call me in 24 hours.
So we will see
Hope you’re not feeling too bad? My husband is testing negative but is feeling rough and was sick all of yesterday. I’m just like a cold at the moment and have a 3 year old and 6 month old to look after as well so we’ll see how things go!
Heads up the unit that I had been referred to at the hospital is closed for referrals and has been for the last week as they are too busy. So I am back to being referred from scratch again! Nightmare
Oh gosh! Where do you live? I’m Oxford based.
London, Richmond. I should be ok I am on the younger side, in my 30’s so fingers crossed. And doing ok at the moIt’s just annoying that I have to find all this info out!
Me too, am 37. Just want to know the plan I guess? Good luck with getting what you need!
I’m just finishing a course of anti virals and I spoke to my GP who said she would refer me to be considered and I was then contacted by my hospital. I didn’t receive a letter though.
**** nightmare!
I filled in the online forms Saturday morning as I tested positive again and waited for the ‘someone will ring you in the next 24 hours’ to happen... nothing!
I rang my rheumatologist’s secretary yesterday first thing and rheumy rang hospital to get antivirals released - she called me and said the hospital pharmacy would call to organise the meds.... nothing!
I rang GP this morning and they said would do an urgent referral and finally I got a call from the hospital about an hour ago to say the info had only just got to them and ‘yes’ I was eligible for the antivirals and someone else would ring to arrange when and where to collect them... am now waiting for this call to happen!!
One interesting thing the hospital Dr did say was to stop my statin for a week whilst taking the antivirals ...
All the best
Ali
This sounds so stressful! Are you feeling unwell too?
I phoned my gp who said call 111 as they don’t deal with antivirals. Called 111 and after being put through or called back by 5 people it was agreed to put me on them. They did not arrive that or the next, I was given a telephone number to chase up the pharmacy if I did not get them in 2 days. They said they had not received a prescription for me, call 111. I rang 111 again, what are your symptoms etc, I’m only chasing my prescription…yes but we have to go through procedure. 8,30pm on day 5 a clinician called. I said it’s to late but the reply was that she could still pass me up the queue as they may let me have the antivirals on day 6. This was a Friday, my reply was don’t bother. I could face being passed round again and by this time I had started to feel better. It was day 3 before I started this because I did not I could have antivirals.
I called 111. They got a clinician to call me back which she did then told me she was too busy to deal with it and someone would get back to me within 24hrs. Got a call from clinician next day, she referred me to the local CMDU and a dr from there called me an hour later. Went through all the questions, he checked my medical records and bloods and then got the go ahead for antivirals. They wouldn't or couldn't deliver so much hubby had to get out of work to go pick them up from the local hospital. It seems reading others posts its different every where. Should be made easier. Bad enough getting covid without then having to 'go round the houses'!
When I tested positive recently I called my GP, they made a referral to a local hospital and they called me to arrange monoclonal antibody treatment within hours. I was told that I would need treatment within 5 days of first symptoms, so I think 12th July sounds too late to me. I did have an urgent (red box) PCR test which I did immediately which was issued to me after I had been in hospital for 10 days with an asthma exacerbation. I don’t know whether that made any difference but I don’t think so.
I tested positive in March, reported the lft, did and reported a PCR, all on a Friday. Someone rang me on the Saturday afternoon and went through my long list of meds - 24, and said a dr would ring. A dr rang on the Sunday, said I was eligible for anti virals, and because she could hear how bad my chest was, I would have an infusion the following day. I had to travel to the only hospital in Birmingham that was doing it, an hour away, but it was well worth it because it stopped Covid in its tracks, and although I didn’t test negative until day 10, my lungs didn’t get any worse! Good luck.
I reported my positive test on nhs website. Waited 24 hours for someone to contact me as it said, but heard nothing. Rang GP who wasn’t sure of the procedure but checked it out and rang me back with a form he had to fill in. He sent that off to the covid unit. Next morning I had a call from a nurse at the unit who asked a lot of questions. Later that day I had a call from a hospital pharmacist who asked more questions! I think it’s because Paxlovid has possible interactions with a lot of other medication. Next morning a doctor from the covid unit rang and then finally that afternoon I had another call from pharmacy to say my prescription was ready! Long winded but all worked out in the end. I was also given an oxygen meter and enrolled on a virtual covid ward where I had to text in my oxygen levels every morning for fourteen days.
Had to phone 111 as no phone call after 24 hrs. They have put the referral in and they now have 4 days to contact me so we’ll see. GP has to contact me within 6 hours to check on my too due to my chest / asthma. Am hoping it’ll be a smooth process but I know the rates are really high again and it’s all really busy!
I had a call back from a London hospital yesterday and they said first day is day zero and then it counts up. So essentially we have six days if that makes sense. I am now awaiting triage.
My rheum team also contacted me yesterday about some of my drugs and I told them and they said if my GP referred to that hospital they would make sure I got the drugs. So if I don’t hear back by tomorrow, my day 4 I will contact them again.
I get they are all super busy so I am just waiting again now.
It’s all over the news that covid is high so we will see what happens. I am not normally on this site so much …. But it’s been good to hear other peoples views. I hope you hear back soon…
GP phoned and now have an Oxi-meter to check oxygen levels. Rheumatology also phoned to say to not take my injections. Feel well looked after on both sides there. GP also calling back on Friday so I’ll wait and see if I get a phone call / need antivirals.
Just got a phone call from the CMDU. They are going to send me the tablets tomorrow. Apparently the tablets are working better on this strain of COVID than the infusion. Which is great as no one wants a trip to hospital.
My GP didn’t mention my biologics or steroids. (I gave in to steroids for the first time in two years a couple of weeks ago) Just sulfasalazine so they were not sure why they were to call me on the referral. But annoyed at the GP but at least it’s sorted
I got my call too which is good. Am having the infusion as I’m breastfeeding my baby so that works best for me, hope you feel better soon… thank you for going through it all at the same time!
Ha ha, it does feel like we have been through it together doesn’t it. Really pleased for you and the infusion is a biologic so your joints should be great afterwards - no medical knowledge behind that just a theory my husband and I have 😂
Hubby got COVID 2 weeks ago. I rang Rheumy nurse and she said stop taking MTX and test every day. If I tested positive I was to ring 119 straight away to see about antivirals. Luckily I was always negative. Locking him in the spare room worked 😁
In Scotland we were given a hotline number for our health board area. I call on Sunday morning and the prescription was sent to a local pharmacy the following Monday. If I had been closer to Aberdeen I might have been offered an infusion instead of tablets.
I was on the NHS eligible for antivirals list. 111 referred me to covid hub who got clinician to phone me. But he told me Im not in fact eligible!! RA and Copd with asthma . Wish I hadnt been told I was on the list in the first place!
My GP today said it’s to do with how ill you are / symptoms so I could be getting them but not definitely. Will see over the next few days.
Anti-tnf; masking symptoms?
anti-depressants do help
Anti inflammatory diet
Bone scan and anti inflammatory 
