Essex Covid clinic raises awareness of Winter services
Those aged over 70 in a care home, or over 85 at home, can access medication to relieve symptoms
A Covid clinic in Essex is hoping to raise awareness to their services this Winter.
Those aged over 70 in a care home, or over 85 at home, can access medication to relieve their Covid symptoms, with the aim of preventing hospitalisation.
If given within five days of symptoms, one medication can reduce hospitalisation and death by eighty-nine percent.
The COVID-19 Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) is a seven-day service, which supports non-hospitalised patients, who are at a high risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19, despite being vaccinated.
Patients who test positive for COVID-19 can now refer themselves to the CMDU by calling 0300 44 35919, instead of logging their positive result on the government website as they would have previously.
Results logged on the government website no longer trigger an automatic referral.
If you have any questions, please contact the CMDU team on mse.nmabs@nhs.net or call 0300 44 35919, Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm or weekends from 9am to 1pm.
Who can be treated by the CMDU?
Patients within the following high-risk cohorts may be eligible for treatment:
Solid organ cancer
Haematological disease or stem cell recipients
Solid organ transplant recipients
Renal disease
Liver disease
Down’s syndrome or other chromosomal disorders known to affect immune competence
Immune deficiencies
HIV/AIDS
Neurological Disorders
Respiratory Conditions.
In addition to the above high risk cohorts of patients, from 11 June 2024 the following cohort of patients may be eligible for Paxlovid treatment, if they test positive for COVID-19 and are symptomatic:
- 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 – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised.
- people who have a BMI 35 kg/m2 or more – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised
- people who are diabetic – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised
- people with heart failure – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised.
Free lateral flow tests
The NHS offers COVID-19 treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at risk of becoming seriously ill. Patients can get free COVID 19 rapid lateral flow tests from a community pharmacy if they are potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatment.
To access treatment, eligible patients first need to be able to test themselves by using a lateral flow device test if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. It is therefore important that they have lateral flow device tests at their home in advance of developing symptoms, so they can promptly undertake a test.
Patients can search where to get these here