Change of access of treatment to Covid treatments.

[Moomin8]

I have attached an email which I received today. It might be relevant to some of you:

'You may have previously received a letter or email explaining that you might be suitable for treatments if you get COVID and how to get treatment, if required.

We are writing again because the way that you access treatment will change from Tuesday 27 June 2023.

If you get COVID from Tuesday 27 June 2023:

You will no longer be automatically contacted by the NHS about treatments after reporting a positive COVID test result.

You should instead contact your GP practice, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible after you test positive so that they can consider referring you for an assessment for treatment.

Why are we sending you this letter?

Your medical records currently show that you may have a health condition which means that treatments might be suitable for you if you get COVID.

These treatments can reduce the chance of you getting seriously ill from COVID and need to be given quickly after you start to have symptoms.

You may have previously been told that the NHS would contact you about treatment once you report a positive COVID test. This will no longer be the case from 27 June.

1. You should keep lateral flow tests at home

You should keep lateral flow tests at home but only use them if you get symptoms. If you do not have any tests, you can order tests free of charge from gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra... or by calling 119.

From 1 October 2023, the way you access tests may change. You will be able to check nhs.uk/CoronavirusTreatments for more information closer to the time.

You can also now use tests purchased from a pharmacy or shop.

2. You should take a test if you have COVID symptoms

If you have COVID symptoms 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 at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119, using your NHS number and postcode. This will ensure your test result is visible to the NHS, to support referral and assessment.

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.

3. Contact the NHS as soon as possible if you test positive

From 27 June, if you test positive, you should contact your GP practice, NHS 111 or hospital specialist (if you have one) as soon as possible so that they can consider referring you for an assessment for treatment.

More information is available at: nhs.uk/CoronavirusTreatments

Yours sincerely

Professor Sir Stephen Powis

National Medical Director

NHS England'

[LoveMygarden29]

hi Moomin8, I have received the same email. It’s good to pass on this important information

[cathie]

has anyone in Scotland received anything like this?

[BoneyC]

I also received the same email.

[janmary]

thankyou for taking the trouble to post this - I haven’t had the letter yet but haad been wondering what the new arrangements are as the old systems are winding down

[Pulfs]

received same email this week also x

[RachelD1972]

Thanks, I also received this yesterday. It went into my spam/junk email folder. For anyone who hasn’t received it, it maybe worth checking there.

[suwinter]

I received this too, a very good idea to post this.

[g684]

I discussed this letter with my GP last week. They had not seen the letter nor did they know how to access the treatments. It may well be useful to check with your GP to ensure they know what to do my, should you ever need COVID treatments