Vulnerable people urged to seek help if they get COVID
A hospital service that offers COVID treatments and advice is encouraging people to find out what support is available to them if they fall ill this winter.
The COVID Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU), run by the Trust, cares for vulnerable patients who have tested positive for COVID, providing advice and medication.
Lana Goodwin, Matron for COVID services at the Trust, said: “We help our patients to avoid the worst effects of COVID, which can be particularly severe for vulnerable patients, as well as preventing them from needing to go to hospital.
“We encourage all patients who are vulnerable to be prepared for winter by having a box of lateral flow test kits at home, which are free to collect for these groups of patients from their local pharmacy, and also take their COVID vaccine if offered.”
It has helped over 4,000 patients across mid and south Essex since its launch in December 2021 to recover from their illness more quickly and, in some cases, avoid a trip to hospital. Changes to guidelines mean that more patients are now eligible for treatment.
Joe Hall, 43, from Brentwood, has had a kidney transplant, which means that he needs to take medication that suppresses his immune system. This makes him more vulnerable to diseases such as COVID-19. After he was referred by NHS 111, the CMDU provided him with IV medication.
He said: “The CMDU service has given me the confidence to live my normal, everyday life, such as meeting others or just travelling at regular times. This has been difficult with my kidney transplant during COVID, but I know that if I fall ill, I can access the treatment that I need and that I will recover more quickly. It’s also helpful that this is provided in my local area, as it saves me a trip to a main hospital.”
Louise Haines, 48, from Chelmsford, fell ill during the August bank holiday weekend, and tested positive with COVID. She has asthma and, after contacting NHS 111, was referred to the mid and south Essex CMDU, who arranged for her to be given oral medication.
She said: “When I spoke to the nurse on the phone, they were 100% professional, thorough, and very knowledgeable. They told me straight away which pharmacy had the medication I needed, and by 1pm on bank holiday Monday my husband had received it. The service made a massive difference to me and meant that I recovered much more quickly from COVID than I’m used to.”
People can refer themselves directly to the service by calling 0300 443 5919, or they can be referred by their GP, 111 or their Clinical Nurse Specialist.
List of people eligible for treatment has been expanded to include those:
- People aged 85 years and over
- People with end-stage heart failure who have a long-term ventricular assistance device
- People on the organ transplant waiting list
- People aged 70 years and over – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised
- People who have a BMI 35 kg/m2 or more – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised
- People who are diabetic – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised
- People with heart failure – who are a resident in a care home or who are already hospitalised