This webpage provides information on eligibility for COVID-19 treatments, accessing COVID-19 medicines in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and what treatments are available. Updated August 2024. 

Information on how to access lateral flow tests is given below. 

Testing positive for COVID-19

If you have an immunodeficiency and have symptoms of COVID-19 and test positive, then you should access COVID-19 treatments as soon as possible. 

We advise you have this information to hand: 

  • The name of your diagnosis 
  • The date you tested positive 
  • The date your symptoms started 
  • Your current address (including where you’re staying if you’re away from home) 
  • Your contactable phone number 
  • Your current medical conditions 
  • Your current medications 

Make sure you have contact details for your hospital team’s out of hours service, in case you test positive at the weekend or any time outside their normal working hours. 

Eligibility for COVID-19 treatments 

A summary of the eligible health conditions is provided at www.nhs.uk/CoronavirusTreatments, with more detail provided in this NICE guidance.  

PLEASE NOTE: Being on the eligibility list does not mean you will automatically get COVID-19 treatments. There is a further triage system in place involving a medical professional who will assess your needs.   

NHS easy read version of Treatments for COVID-19.  

These are the current guidelines for your reference and for your health teams.   

How to access COVID-19 treatment in England

In England, if you test positive for COVID-19 you will no longer automatically be contacted by the NHS to discuss treatment. The way you access assessment for COVID treatments now varies depending on where you live. 

You should follow the instructions for your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) – the area where you are registered with a GP.  Find your local integrated care board (ICB). 

If you want to contact your local ICB with feedback or a complaint about primary care services such as access to COVID-19 medicines, you can find their contact details at NHS England » Contact your local integrated care board (ICB). 

Use the list below to find out what you should do in your area as soon as you test positive for COVID.  

If you are travelling within the UK and test positive for COVID-19, contact NHS 111. 

Find your local Integrated Care Board below.

Select your area, choose your Integrated Card Board (ICB) and follow the local instructions below:

  • NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes 

GP or 111 or hospital team. 

  • NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

GP or 111 or hospital team. 

  • NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex 

Call NHS 111 for an assessment for covid-19 treatment. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Hertfordshire and West Essex. 

  • NHS Mid and South Essex 

Refer yourself to the CMDU by calling 0300 44 34919. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Mid and South Essex. 

  • NHS Norfolk and Waveney 

GP or 111 or hospital team. 

  • NHS Suffolk and North East Essex 

Ring the Suffolk and North East Essex CMDU on 01473 299612 to be assessed for treatment. You can read important information about COVID-19 treatments in Suffolk and North East Essex here. 

  • NHS North Central London 

Contact the Covid Medicines Service directly by phone on 020 3838 7121 (available 10:00 to 13:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 12:00 Saturday and Sunday) or by email at nclicb.cmdu@nhs.net (mailbox is monitored 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 14:00 Saturday and Sunday). 

An answering machine is available outside of operating hours and calls will be returned. 

You should also be able to access the service by contacting your GP, NHS 111 or your hospital team. Find out more about covid treatments in North Central London.  

  • NHS North East London 

Contact the CMDU directly by phone on 020 3838 7121 or email at NEL.CMDUReferral@nhs.net. You do not need to wait for referral, you can refer yourself to this service. Find out more about covid treatments in Northeast East London. 

  • NHS North West London 

Contact your GP or NHS 111. 

Find out more about covid treatments in North West London. 

  • NHS South East London 

Contact your GP, hospital specialist (if you have one) or NHS 111 who will refer you to the CMDU. You may also be able to refer yourself to the CMDU by ringing 020 7188 0510 (Monday – Saturday 08:30 – 17:30, Sunday 08:30 – 15:30). 

Find out more about covid treatments in South East London. 

  • NHS South West London 

Contact the CMDU directly by phone on 0208 725 1559 (09:00 – 17:00) or by email at covid.mdu@stgeorges.nhs.uk. 

You can also contact your GP or NHS 111 who may refer you to the service. 

Find out more about covid treatments in South West London. You can also get more information from the St George’s Hospital website. 

  • NHS Birmingham and Solihull 

Contact your GP, NHS 111 or secondary care team to be referred to the Birmingham and Solihull Covid Medicines Delivery Unit. 

  • NHS Black Country 

Contact the Community COVID Treatment Service by phone on 07775 752740 (Mon – Fri) or by email at rwh-tr.cmdu.wolverhampton@nhs.net. 

You can also contact your GP, NHS 111 or your hospital team. If you test positive out of hours, email the address above. 

Find out more about covid treatments in the Black Country 

  • NHS Coventry and Warwickshire 

Refer yourself to the Respiratory@Home service via this self-referral form: https://selfreferral.happyhealthylives.uk/ You should also be able to contact your GP, NHS 111 or secondary care team to be referred. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Coventry and Warwickshire. 

  • NHS Derby and Derbyshire 

Contact your GP or NHS 111. You can self-refer by ringing 0300 1000 432 or emailing UCD.admin@nhs.net 

  • NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire 

Contact your GP in normal hours and 111 out of hours. You will be directed to appropriate CMDU. 

  • NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 

Contact your GP or NHS 111 to be referred to the COVID medicines service. If you are struggling to access treatments, ring 0116 497 5700 or email covidbooking.llrpcl@nhs.net. Find out more about covid treatments in Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland. 

  • NHS Lincolnshire 

Contact NHS 111 to be assessed for covid treatment. 

  • NHS Northamptonshire 

Contact your GP or NHS 111 to access covid medicines via Northampton General Hospital or Kettering General Hospital. 

  • NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 

Contact the CMDU by phone on 01158 462 392 (08:00 – 16:00) to self-refer or contact your GP who can refer you. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. 

  • NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 

GP or 111 or hospital team. 

  • NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent 

Contact your GP, NHS 111 or hospital team to be referred for assessment for treatment. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent 

  • NHS Humber and North Yorkshire

Complete this webform to refer yourself for treatment.

If you cannot complete the webform, contact your GP or NHS 111 who can refer you to the Humber and North Yorkshire triage service.

  • NHS North East and North Cumbria

GP or 111 or hospital team.

  • NHS South Yorkshire

Contact your GP or NHS 111 who will refer you for assessment for treatment.

If you are under 16 your paediatric specialist should be contacted to make a referral to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Find out more about covid treatments in South Yorkshire.

  • NHS West Yorkshire

Contact NHS 111 who will refer you to a screening process for treatments.

  • NHS Cheshire and Merseyside 

Contact NHS 111 unless you are directed otherwise by your hospital team. You can also self-refer to the CMDU by phone 0151 296 7222 or by email at mcn-tr.cmdu@nhs.net 

Find out more about covid treatments in Cheshire and Merseyside. 

  • NHS Greater Manchester 

GP or 111 or hospital team.  

  • NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria 

GP or 111 or hospital team.  

  • NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West 

Contact your GP or out of hours service to be referred to the CMDU. 

  • NHS Frimley 

Call the CMDU for assessment on 03000 24 0000. This number will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 

  • NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight 

Self-refer for assessment for treatment by completing the webform here: https://phlgroup.co.uk/cmdu/ or by calling 0330 058 7080 between 09:00 and 16:00, seven days a week. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. 

  • NHS Kent and Medway 

Contact your GP or NHS 111 to be referred to the CMDU team. You can also email the CMDU at kmicb.cmdusupport@nhs.net. 

  • NHS Surrey Heartlands 

Contact the CMDU directly by phone on 03000 24 0000. This number will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

  • NHS Sussex 

Complete this webform to refer yourself for treatment. If you are unable to complete this form, contact your GP or NHS 111 who can refer you for assessment for treatment. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Sussex. 

  • NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire 

GP or 111 or hospital team.  

  • NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire 

Contact your GP who will refer you to a CMDU service. Outside of GP opening times, contact NHS 111 for referral. Find out more about covid treatments in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. 

  • NHS Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly 

GP or 111 or hospital team.  

  • NHS Devon 

If you are under the care of a hospital team, contact them first. If you are not under the care of a hospital team, contact your GP or an out of hours service. 

  • NHS Dorset 

Contact your GP, NHS 111 or hospital team. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Dorset. 

  • NHS Gloucestershire  

Contact the Covid Medicines Service on 01452 335291 between 10:00 and 16:00, seven days a week. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Gloucestershire. 

  • NHS Somerset 

Contact your GP to be considered for assessment for treatment. Outside of GP opening times contact NHS 111 or your hospital specialist. 

Find out more about covid treatments in Somerset. 

Please note that normal prescription costs apply for COVID-19 treatment in England.

How to access COVID-19 treatments in Scotland

If you get symptoms of COVID-19, you should take a lateral flow test as soon as possible. If it’s positive, you’ll need to log your positive test online or by calling 119. 

You should then report your positive covid result to your Health Board. You can find contact numbers for each Health Board here.  You may reach an answering machine and be asked to leave a message. 

Whoever you speak to, tell them you are immunosuppressed, with a positive covid test, and that you think you are eligible for treatment. You could also get advice by calling 111, your hospital team or your GP. 

If you test positive while you’re away from home (for example on holiday), contact your home Scottish health board where you permanently live. This is because your home health board (in Scotland) will have access to more information about you. They’ll then help you to access the closest treatment service to where you currently are. 

You can access information on all COVID-19 services at Coronavirus (COVID-19) | NHS inform. 

How to access COVID-19 treatments in Wales

If you get symptoms of COVID-19, you should take a lateral flow test as soon as possible. If it’s positive, you will need to complete this form to access treatment: Covid-19 Antiviral Self-Referral Form (NHS111 Wales).

You should then be contacted by your Local Health Board within 48 hours. If you are eligible for treatment, they will tell you how to get it. This will depend on which treatment is suitable for you.

If you can’t complete the online form, call your GP or NHS111 and tell them you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive, believe you are in the highest risk group and are eligible for treatment.

For more information, read the Welsh Government’s information about covid treatments. The  Welsh Medicines Advice Service also has information about COVID treatments and how to access them.

How to access COVID-19 treatment in Northern Ireland

If you get symptoms of COVID, you should take a lateral flow test as soon as possible. If it’s positive, you’ll need to log your positive test online. You should receive a text message advising that your local HSC Trust will be told and that medical staff will review information in your medical records. 

If you cannot use the online service to report your test result, or you have used the service but not received a text message within 24 hours, contact your GP or GP out-of-hours service. They can contact your local Trust for you. 

What treatments are available?  

The treatments available are:

  • Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) (antiviral, tablets)
  • Sotrovimab (antibody, intravenous drip), if Paxlovid is unsuitable.

These medicines aim to stop COVID-19 from becoming severe and to prevent hospitalisation or serious illness in those most at risk. They have been found to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with weakened immune systems. Which treatment you have (if any) will be based on a personal assessment with a qualified healthcare professional about the different benefits and risks.

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir)

  • antiviral treatment (made up of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir)
  • taken as tablets at home
  • can be used in people aged 18+
  • 88-89% relative risk reduction of hospitalisation or death
  • should be given within 5 days of covid symptoms starting, but this can be extended to 7 days if needed

Information leaflet about Paxlovid

Contraindications with Paxlovid

There are lots of health conditions and other medicines that can interact with Paxlovid. Your doctor should consider this with you before making a decision. The drugs include some cancer drugs, immunosuppressants, painkillers, drugs for infections, blood clot prevention drugs, hormonal contraceptives, and other medicines.

Sotrovimab (Xevudy)

  • may be used if Paxlovid is unsuitable
  • antibody treatment
  • given into a vein (intravenously). You will need to attend a medical clinic to have treatment
  • can be used in people aged 12+ who weigh at least 40kg
  • 79% relative risk reduction of hospitalisation or death
  • should be given within 5 days of covid symptoms starting

Information leaflet about sotrovimab

Accessing free lateral flow tests and reporting results 

Make sure you keep a box of rapid lateral flow tests at home. Free testing is no longer available to the general public, but if you are eligible for COVID treatments, you can still get free tests. 

You can also use tests you buy from a pharmacy. The results of these will be accepted. 

If you get COVID-19 symptoms, take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible. If it’s positive, follow the instructions for your country, or your local area if you live in England. If the test is negative, but you have COVID-19 symptoms, continue to take lateral flow tests daily. 

Accessing free tests in England 

From 6 November 2023, you should be able to pick up free rapid lateral flow tests from a local pharmacy. You will not be able to order tests online for by phone from 16 November. 

The NHS has launched a new pharmacy finder. This tool helps you locate pharmacies offering free LFTs if you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments. This should make it easier for you to locate a nearby pharmacy that offers the service. Further information on COVID-19 treatments and how to access the service can be found at www.nhs.uk/COVIDtreatments. 

When you visit your pharmacy, take a copy of a letter or email that shows you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatments – this is not essential but will help confirm that you should have free tests. Tests now come in boxes of 5. If you no longer have a copy of the letter confirming eligibility then contact you specialist health team for support. 

A friend, relative or carer can collect tests for you, or you may be able to book a  volunteer responder by calling 0808 196 3646. Anyone collecting free tests for you should take a letter or email confirming your eligibility for COVID treatments, plus these personal details: 

  • your condition or conditions 
  • your NHS number 
  • your full name 
  • your date of birth 
  • your address 

Accessing free tests in Scotland  

You can order free COVID tests from the NHS Scotland portal. 

You will need to register an account online via the link above to access this service for the first time. 

If you’re eligible for free NHS tests and you cannot place an order online, phone 0800 008 6587. 

The helpline is free from mobiles and landlines. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Lines are closed on Sundays and bank holidays. 

They have a translation service. SignVideo (a free online British Sign Language interpreter service) is also available. 

Accessing free tests in Wales 

Free tests are available from participating pharmacies.  You can use the NHS Wales online search to find a pharmacy near you providing free tests. 

Accessing free tests in Northern Ireland 

According to  NIDirect, you can no longer order tests online or by phone. You may be able to get a free test from a pharmacy if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments, ideally taking a letter or email that confirms your eligibility for COVID-19 treatments. See the advice for England above. 

Updated August 2024