Information for Clinicians

2 August 2023
Covid clinicians

NHS Coronavirus guidance for clinicians and NHS managers

The local interseasonal referral mechanism for clinicians to follow.

Information for Care Homes

Covid-19 Treatment guidelines have recently been updated so that more people are now eligible for treatment. Treatments must be started within 5 days of a positive test (or symptoms started) so it is important that processes are in place to identify and onward refer in a timely manner. This may include out of hours or weekends so please ensure all staff are aware of this change. 

Eligibility form October 2025 includes all high risk patients, it is the clinicians responsibility to identify patients and refer for treatment, however consider treatment if a patient is over 70 years or:

Living in care home

Immunosuppression (e.g. transplant, chemotherapy)

Recent cancer treatment

COPD (especially on oxygen)

CKD stage 4–5

Severe neurological disease with frailty

Down’s syndrome

Severe asthma (frequent steroid use)

For residents of care home setting, if any residents are found to have a positive PCR result, they should be eligible for a covid treatment, within 5 days of onset of symptoms.  

  • Most care homes would refer cases to the patients registered GP practice for further assessment (or 111 if out of hours)
  • Any healthcare professional can refer a patient to the Covid Medicines Treatment Unit (CMDU) in BSW via bswicb.cmdu@nhs.net
  • Please include :
    • date of onset of symptoms
    • the date of a positive Covid test (if there is one)
    • any additional clinical information that is relevant to the referral

Other useful information