CEV tested positive today, phone 111?

[AdditionalCharacter]

I can't find my letter about what to do when I test positive. I registered the positive test online (as required by my line of work) and said they'd contact me in 2& hours, but to phone if I wasnt. Didn't supply my NHS number, will they still be able to locate me?

Feeling like death warmed up.

Cmdu will contact you directly within 24hrs of positive test being registered. If that doesn't happen contact your GP as it will be in hours. If GP is uncontactable 111 can do an urgent referral.

Ring covid ward. Explain your CEV and want antiviral.

you have a short window to take them if you choose to so do not wait.

my covid ward rang me on day 5. Too late if I had wanted them! I am CEV too.

I dealt with this last week for my elderly dad.

If I were you I would call 111 and ask them to refer you to the covid medicines delivery unit for your area. That way your referral will be waiting first thing tomorrow morning and you'll get assessed more quickly than if you wait for them to get in touch tomorrow/Tuesday.

Is 119 still operational?

Thanks for advice, will give them a call

It doesn't deal with anti-virals for CEV/covid any more, apparently.

DP spent most of a day on the phone when he tested positive last month with (a) 119, and (b) GP, to get absolutely nowhere.

He finally got through to 111, who after telling him to ring (a) 119, and (b) his GP, announced that he wasn't on 'The List' and didn't qualify for anti-virals.

Which isn't what the letter from Rheumatology says, but hey ho.

111 did however confirm that they can deal with this, yes.

We were sent a PCR test to keep safe in case DD tests positive on a LFT. As far as I was aware you send it off , it gets processed as urgent and if positive you get contacted to discuss the need (ne not) for anti virals. Haven't received any communication since so I assumed that was still how it worked.

Just got off phone to 111. They took details, a nurse called me back who made sure I don't need urgent care, and sent my details to local antiviral department for them to contact me (will be tomorrow)
All very quick, I'm quite surprised as usually 111 take forever to phone back.

The antivirals are brilliant. The CEV person in our house was by far the worst to begin with, but within 48 hours was feeling miles better. The other two were still feeling horrendous a week later when the CEV person was long since fully recovered. Brilliant!

No it doesn't work like that now. You only send it off if told to do so by a doctor. A lft is enough if you qualify for antivirals. Most people who were labelled CEV don't actually qualify though.

I registered my DH when he tested positive, he then got a text to say he could be eligible for antivirals. I phoned my GP to ask how it works, receptionist said she would phone back. When she did she had made an appointment for a hospital medical assessment unit that same afternoon, when he went they checked him over and said to give it 2 days and see how he was. They rang him over the next 3 days to check he was getting better, although they said he wouldn’t be eligible. This was because he had heart surgery 2 years ago.

@TheRoadToRuin that's so bad that they've never updated us! They emailed us the original advice and then the PCR test arrived as per the email notification. Nothing since so we were just assuming we'd know what to do if she tested positive!

DD is on a slightly lower dose of immunosuppressants as she's on a new medication regime now so maybe she no longer appears on the list.

@TheRoadToRuin

hi, I was wondering if you know where to check whether you still qualify for anti virals or not. I've read cknflicting things online & woukd just like to know in advance. TIA

Hoping once you start the antivirals that you feel better soon AdditionalCharacter

This is what happened to me. I've since had another letter from the NHS telling me I'm entitled to free LFTs, a fifth jab (which I had last week) and antivirals if I test positive. I really hope they okay it if I catch it again because I was so ill last time and was testing positive for weeks, meaning I couldn't take my RA meds so it had a knock on effect there, too. That was April and I'm still getting over the covid and horrendous flares I've had as a result of no meds for over a month.

You're sent a letter - though in my experience (and that of many others it seems) even having that doesn't guarantee you'll get the antivirals.

I got a letter in March.
Text copied below.
I am on immunosuppressing drugs but I suspect I might still not get anti virals. Having said that I was hospitalised when I got covid last year so maybe that would affect the decision.

Your medical records currently show you might be suitable for treatments if you get coronavirus.

You may have received a version of this letter before. It has been updated because the Government has changed the way you test for coronavirus. From 1 April you should check coronavirus symptoms using lateral flow tests, not a PCR test.
This letter explains that:

You should keep lateral flow tests at home

You should take a test if you have coronavirus symptoms. Important: You must report your test result.

If you test positive, the NHS will contact you about treatments.

^For more information visit: www.nhs.uk/CoronavirusTreatments^
Why are we sending you this letter?

Health experts have looked at the health conditions which put people at more risk from coronavirus. Those health conditions have been agreed by UK chief medical officers.

We are contacting you because your medical records currently show that you have one or more of these health conditions. This means that treatments might be suitable for you if a test confirms you have coronavirus.

These treatments can stop you from getting seriously ill and need to be given quickly after you start to have symptoms.
1. You should keep lateral flow tests at home

The UK Health Security Agency will send you one pack of lateral flow tests by 12 April. Only use them if you develop symptoms. If you run out, you can order more from www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests or by calling 119.

You can use any lateral flow tests supplied by the Government. Tests bought from a shop cannot currently be registered via GOV.UK or 119 and you will not be contacted about treatment if you test positive using these tests.

If you were previously sent a PCR test you can keep it. You might be asked to take a PCR if you receive treatment from the NHS.
2. You should take a test if you have coronavirus symptoms

If you have coronavirus symptoms you should take a lateral flow test immediately, even if your symptoms are mild.

You must report your result at www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119. It’s important to provide your NHS number so you can be contacted.

If your test is negative but you still have symptoms, you should take another test on each of the next two days (three tests in total over three days).
3. If you test positive, the NHS will contact you about treatments

If any of your lateral flow tests are positive and you have reported the result, the NHS should contact you about treatment. If you are not contacted within 24 hours of your positive test, call your GP surgery, 111, or your specialist clinician (if you have one), who can make an urgent referral.

@DizzyWhoreI8O4 I have RA as well and have had 5 vaccines. I had covid after two vaccines and so I hope 3 more have made a difference!