"Covid antiviral treatment and virtual hospital"

After testing positive for Covid I called 111 as per previous instructions regarding my eligibility for antiviral treatment. The NHS care provided was excellent, let down only by the apparently understaffed (privately provided) out of hours doctors service, which delayed the start of the treatment.

My understanding is that the sooner antiviral medication is administered, the more effective it is, so I was glad when the 111 operator said I would have a call back from the out of hours doctor within 2 hours. Unfortunately I wasn’t called back for over 12 hours, meaning that the OOH doctor could only refer me to the Covid Medicine Delivery Unit for attention Monday morning. Whilst he was a very kind and helpful doctor, he was clearly dealing with an unmanageable caseload in the time he had. This apparent under-resourcing by a private contractor isn’t fair on their staff, or the patients, or the NHS staff who then have to deal with the consequences “in hours”.

The CDMU called first thing Monday and prescribed antiviral medication. I was told that had I been referred Saturday I could have had it then. It isn’t clear to me why the 111 operator needs to route a case like this to the OOH GP, and can’t go directly to the local CDMU to help speed up the process. Given I felt markedly worse by Monday, I think it would have been better if I could have started treatment sooner. The CDMU staff were very kind and helpful, and I am grateful for their efficiency. Please pass on my thanks.

Along with prescribing medication, the CDMU admitted me to the “Virtual Hospital” (AHAH). This is a truly excellent initiative. I am quite sure that the reassurance provided by knowing there was help I could call upon and that I was being checked up on really helped my recovery. On the Monday evening in particular I felt very unwell, but knowing that I was “already in the system” and help would be available if I needed meant that I felt less anxious and was able to wait it out for the antivirals to take effect. I would like to thank everyone involved with the AHAH - it really is a great idea, and the website explaining it all is also very helpful. My only suggestions for improvements to the data sheet I was completing would be 1) include temperature readings and 2) include a free text box for “other symptoms” as not everything is on the list.