COVID-19 treatment- how to get advice and any necessary treatment in UK

Introduction

If you are taking corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressant treatment, you need to know what to do if you live in UK, become unwell and think you may have COVID-19.

The instructions on how to get advice and any necessary treatment for COVID-19 are slightly different depending on whether you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Links to each country’s websites are given below.

Each of the UK countries’ instructions includes lists of people who are considered to be at highest risk if they get COVID-19. Check your country’s list.

Be prepared! Read your UK country’s instructions in advance so that you know how to get medical advice if you think you may have caught COVID-19. 

General advice

  • Keep a supply of rapid lateral flow tests at home. The instructions for each UK country explain how to obtain rapid lateral flow test kits. These test kits may be free if you meet certain conditions, or you can buy them at a pharmacy or supermarket.
  • If your rapid lateral flow test is positive, then you need to get medical advice as soon as possible. Links are given below.
  • Before you contact your UK country’s designated telephone number for advice, have by you a list of all the medicines you take, their strengths, doses and how many times a day you take them, including medicines bought over the counter, supplements, vitamins and herbal medicines. This is because certain medicines used for treating COVID-19 can interact with several other medicines. 
  • The doctor at the advice centre will ask you questions about your general health and any other conditions you may have besides birdshot, as well as asking about your current symptoms and your rapid lateral flow test results. 
  • Explain that you are taking corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants for the non-infectious posterior uveitis called birdshot uveitis.
  • If you do require antiviral treatment for COVID-19, the doctor at the advice centre will explain how it is obtained.
  • Be aware that you may be told by the doctor at the advice centre that you do not need antiviral treatment for your COVID-19. Not everyone does – it depends on your individual level of risk as assessed by the doctor. This is why the UK COVID-19 treatment systems are in place – to give you personalised, specialist advice.  

England

www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/treatments-for-covid-19

Scotland