Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to recent letters sent from the NHS to individuals deemed to be at higher risk from coronavirus, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that individuals in this group who report a positive test receive advice about treatment within the specific 24-hour time frame.

NHS England is responsible for delivery COVID-19 treatments to eligible patients who have been identified as those who are at the highest risk from COVID-19.

Patients who are clinically eligible for COVID-19 treatments have been identified digitally, where possible, and should have been notified of their eligibility to receive these treatments. The Government will also send patients in this cohort free lateral flow tests.

In the event of a positive lateral flow result, a local COVID Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) will contact the majority of patients directly to confirm their eligibility and arrange treatment if appropriate. In the event a patient is not contacted directly by the National Health Service within 24 hours of a positive lateral flow result, they are encouraged to phone their general practitioner practice or 111 for an urgent referral to a CMDU.