SNEE Covid-19 Oral Antiviral Treatment Service

The aim of this service is to provide the clinical infrastructure to support the safe, timely and appropriate dispensing of antiviral medication for the treatment of Covid-19 for non-hospitalised patients across Suffolk and North East Essex. The service is designed to ensure choice and prompt access to these medicines in the community setting for eligible patients when they are required at all times whilst the pharmacies are open. Each provider will stock a minimum of THREE packs of each antiviral medication (or higher based on local demand) and will make a commitment to ensure eligible patients have prompt access to these medicines to facilitate treatment within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. Patients will receive a full clinical review by a SNEE Covid Management Delivery Unit (CMDU) prescriber and if eligible for treatment, an EPS prescription will be sent to the commissioned community pharmacy, in line with the consent and choice of the patient.

Pharmacists will contact the patient as soon as possible upon receipt of the prescription to confirm consent and clinical suitability for treatment. This discussion is recorded on an electronic platform confirming all checks have been performed to confirm appropriateness of treatment. As appropriate, the pharmacy will make arrangement with the patient/carer for the medication to be collected or delivered.