NEW SELF-REFERRAL SERVICE TO GIVE HIGH RISK COVID PATIENTS FASTER ACCESS TO VITAL TREATMENT
3 June 2024
People who test positive for COVID-19 in Coventry and Warwickshire and who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously unwell are now able to refer themselves for potentially lifesaving treatment.
Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) have launched a new self-referral form that allows patients who are in the highest risk group to access treatment without having to wait to speak to a medical professional should they receive a positive test.
Previously, vulnerable patients had to report a positive test result to their local NHS services and wait for it to be referred for assessment for treatment. The introduction of a self-referral form allows patients to access these vital treatments sooner and gives them a better chance of avoiding the most severe symptoms, which can be potentially fatal in those most at risk.
Timely access to treatments is especially important for COVID-19 as they need to be given quickly after symptoms first start, ideally within five days of the onset of symptoms.
Eligibility:
Patients who are considered to be at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19 should have already received a letter from NHS England, but more information on who is eligible for treatments can be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website.
Additionally, the following groups of patients will be eligible for treatment:
- people aged 85 years and over
- people with end-stage heart failure who have a long-term ventricular assistance device
- people on the organ transplant waiting list
- people aged 70 years and over, or who have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more, diabetes or heart failure, and:
- are a resident in a care home, or
- are already hospitalised.
If eligible patients test positive for Covid, they should refer themselves into the Respiratory@Home service, who are responsible for the community based Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU), using the new self-referral form.
Jamie Soden, Acting Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said:
“Accessing these vital treatments quickly will reduce the risk of vulnerable people becoming seriously ill if they test positive for COVID-19.
“If you have a high-risk condition and experience COVID-19 symptoms, you should take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible. If you test positive, you should refer yourself using the new form or contact the local NHS service as soon as possible.”
“The new self-referral form makes it even easier for those most vulnerable to access COVID-19 treatments and I urge eligible patients to use the service for timely assessment for treatment.”
High risk Covid patients can also still contact their GP practice, NHS 111 or hospital specialist (if they have one) as soon as possible so that the healthcare professional can consider referral for an assessment for treatment.
You can find out more about the treatments for Covid here.