How do you get antivirals/a PCR test (with symptoms and a positive LF)?

[rnsaslkih]

DM has incurable cancer and is on oral “chemo”

she has had 5 jabs and was in the most vulnerable shielding category

tested positive on LF

how do I get the antivirals? She should have been one of the people with priority access. GP not picking phone up.

what should I do?

Did she get one of the letters and tests?

Try calling 119.

You register your positive LFT on the gov site and they will contact you. If you can try and get in touch with her GP or consultant then they can do a direct referral to covid medical dispensing unit at your local hospital which is much quicker as you only have a 5 day window to start treatment.

Registered it on gov
called GP and got them to refer to antiviral provider.

hopefully one of those comes through with the meds soon

the cancer doc said they don’t provide the antivirals

thanks for the replies

Hopefully you will get them soon they really are a game changer, my dh had paxlovid and was completely symptom free after 2 days of treatment and testing negative soon after.

That sounds fantastic!

we haven’t yet heard unfortunately

Aargh this is really starting to be difficult. Nobody has called us back and we have tried all the things above. My mum is getting worse and I just cannot access the help that she needs and is entitled to. Why is this so difficult? She is in the most vulnerable category and nobody can help

It happened automatically for me. I registered the LFT result on NHS Covid App then got a text and then someone called me.

I never had a PCR but was given anti virals (severe asthma). I was given the drip as my other medications had contraindications for the pills

BTW was quite slow and I got the drip on the 5th day (after symptoms started). That was the last day I could have it and they rang me that morning to ask me to come in.

Hope you can sort it

I think yes it’s supposed to be automatic for my mum as her positive is registered and photographed on NHS site. It just hasn’t happened for some reason. How long did it take for you to receive the phone call? I think my mums case is simpler as the oncologist has just said stop the cancer drugs to take the covid ones. So she just needs pills.

There was a similar thread a few months ago and I think the OP (or another poster) accessed the anti-virals via 111 in the end. Does anyone remember it?

I'll try and search for it, @rnsaslkih

I got an initial call the day after my LFT but then heard nothing for a couple of days. I was told a pharmacist would ring me to see what medication I was in but never got that call!

When I called 119 back they gave me the number of the team dealing with the antivirals (it was a local team and number so unless you are in Merseyside it won't be useful)

Can't find that thread, but saw another discussion where posters reckon calling the CMDU direct (it's probably in your local hospital) is the best bet.

(CMDU = Covid-19 Medicines Delivery Unit.)

Got her an appointment 😀
she’s going to have the infusion

I'm really pleased for her, and you.

How was it organised in the end, if you don't mind me asking?

We are not entirely sure which route was successful as we tried everything. The oncologist said to call the GP. The GP yesterday made the referral and said that she would be called that afternoon by what we now know to be the CMDU. But no call came. The GP chased the referral this morning. I had registered the LF test with the NHS online yesterday and clicked the box saying that I was registering the positive test for treatment. As we’d heard nothing by lunchtime today and she was clearly deteriorating, I called 111 and they also referred (they weren’t able to do anything more). So I have no idea which worked.

it was really frustrating. She has had 5 jabs (mixture of Astra, Pfizer and Moderna!) as she is in the highest risk category. She had the letter telling her she was v high risk. But slipped through the cracks somehow with the LF tests not sent to her and the treatment not being quick. Her oxygen on my oximeter went from 96 yesterday to 94 today. She also developed diahorrea today and was less able to eat. So I really hope this infusion is successful today as ideally she would have had it yesterday.

She has had 5 jabs (mixture of Astra, Pfizer and Moderna!) as she is in the highest risk category

Same here, OP. I wish the system were more streamlined. Anyway, I do hope that she gets on well with the infusion and all is well.

And thank you for all the useful info.