Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to enable a system whereby COVID Medicines Delivery Units (1) can be contacted by patients directly for emergency treatment, and (2) have direct access to patient medical records so it can give the appropriate clinical advice to each patient.

There are currently no plans to enable self-referral. When an individual within the eligible treatment cohort registers a positive test, their eligibility is identified through clinical coding which notifies the local COVID Medicine Delivery Unit (CMDU) to contact the patient to assess their suitability for treatment. If patients are not contacted within 24 hours or are not digitally identifiable, they can contact their general practitioner (GP) or NHS 111 for a referral to a CMDU. CMDUs have access to the patient’s medical history to ensure that the treatments available are safely and appropriately prescribed for the individual.

The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce and NHS England and NHS Improvement review the operations of CMDUs to ensure they remain fit for purpose. The 119 service provides assistance to order tests and report results for patients who are not able to do so online. The 119 service does not provide clinical advice and cannot confirm eligibility for treatment or refer patients to CMDUs to be assessed for treatment.