CMDU SHAMBLES

[ks1966]

it’s been days now and no one has got in touch with me to deliver the antivirals that are so crucial to patients who are immune-compromised.

please use this email to complain if you have had a similar experience. Subject stage 1 complaint

[e-mail]

[AgedCrone]

It’s a waste of time…I tested positive days ago & the CMDU coordination is so bad nobody seems to be getting the antivirals on time!

I’m on the mend now …living proof the elderly vulnerable can survive…but if you feel you are getting worse & need attention,,,,,call 999.

[Pythagorus]

so sorry you haven’t heard anything . Has any explanation been given?

Hope you are feeling a bit better

[ks1966 in reply to Pythagorus]

hello. Going around in circles. Nothing from CMDU.

[Sarahg62]

I tested positive December 9th, rang 119 to ask for antivirals. Was told someone would ring me within 24 hours - still waiting !!! Good thing I improved without their help 🙄

[GinnyE]

Will do. It's outrageous..

[ks1966 in reply to GinnyE]

thank you

[Jillyanne]

I had Covid , July time , took me a while but I got antivirals, mind you had to jump through hoops .

I got Covid rebound after finishing my course , so to be honest if I did catch Covid again , don’t think I would ask for them again 🤔🤔

I was actually worse after taking the antivirals

[AgedCrone in reply to Jillyanne]

I’m quite glad now I didn’t get the antivirals…I’m still not brilliant, but the doctor who called today said some of the side effects can be quite nasty. …at least I seem to improve a bit each day with no nasty surprises lying in wait. …I hope!

[rmros in reply to Jillyanne]

That's a shame. It sounds like that's quite common, though they still reduce risk of more serious illness. I didn't have Covid rebound after Paxlovid so think I was one of the lucky ones. But I think I would also think twice about taking them again - the Covid itself wasn't as bad as first time (pre-vaccines) and I don't think my individual risk is really worth the expense - I'm 44 and reasonably fit apart from the obvious. But the side effects for me were just a foul taste in the mouth while I was taking them. Not nice, but nothing I couldn't handle.

[Dave74]

When I had this issue, they let slip which hospital ward was giving the Antivirals, so i called them direct after broken promises daily! I managed to get in on day 5 of being positive!! So if you can find that out there so much more helpful!!? 🤞🏻

[ks1966 in reply to Dave74]

I’ll try. Thanks

[Creakywrists]

I never did get them through the right channels. Like others they didn’t get back to me. Being a remote prescribing practice my GP had them and fortunately took the time to look up all the interactions with my RA drugs and gave me a list of instructions to read before I took them. They did help me a lot. A doctor from the system did contact me a week later very concerned. It’s very difficult to get to hospital from here in an emergency which I think is why she was concerned.

[bpeal1]

Think I’ve been lucky. I tested positive twice in 2022. The first time in February at a weekend. I called 111 and had antivirals in less than 24 hours. The second time was in November on a weekday so I called the rheumatology department. I had a call from the Covid at home team a couple of hours later and they sent me an oximeter. The CMDU then called me the next day, they asked if my symptoms had improved since yesterday when I said no, if anything they were getting worse they organised antivirals which were ready for my mum to collect for me a couple of hours later (they offered to send them by courier but said it might take a bit longer).

[Barrister]

I tested positive last Friday. Called 119 to report it and asked about antivirals. I was told that I would be contacted within 24 hours. I asked what to do if nobody contacted me and was told to call 111. Of course, nobody contacted me so on Saturday I called 111. Hung on for 45 minutes before it was answered. Went through all the information and was told that a clinician would contact me within 4 hours. The clinician called after 2 hours - went through all the information again and she told me that she would be contacting the on call GP who would be able to organise antivirals and who would contact me within 2 hours. That was at 4pm on Saturday. I’m still waiting for that call. Thankfully, I’ve been ok and only getting badly short of breath if I try to do anything. But I am disgusted that we have to go through this rigmarole when we are ill and at our most vulnerable and we still don’t get the medication that we should be getting. It’s a disgrace.

[Jillyanne in reply to Barrister]

I agree, it’s very stressful trying to get the antivirals when we are so ill 😷, it’s on all our records that we can access them, so why do we have to talk to sooooooo many people ??