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Services

Covid-19 medicines delivery unit (CMDU)

Treatments for COVID-19 – Adults and children over 12 years of age

The NHS offers outpatient treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill and have mild symptoms which do not require admission to hospital. This is provided by the Covid-19 Medicines delivery unit (CMDU)

These treatments can reduce the chance of you getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and need to be given within 5 days after you start to have symptoms.

The Covid-19 medicines delivery unit (CMDU) triage is based at New Cross Hospital,
Wolverhampton and the IV Team is based at Westpark Hospital, Wolverhampton. We provide Covid-19 treatments to people at the highest risk across the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley & Sandwell) that have tested positive for Covid-19.

How to get treatment

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 on a Lateral Flow test, you are having symptoms and you think you may be at highest risk of becoming seriously ill, you can access an assessment in the following ways:

  • Contact your GP practice or 111 who may refer you to the service.
  • Phone the CMDU directly on 07775752740 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday (including Bank Holidays except Christmas Day)
  • E-mail rwh-tr.cmdu.wolverhampton@nhs.net (accessed Monday to Friday 8-4pm) and include the following information:
    • Full name
    • Date of birth
    • Home address, and address where you are currently staying if different.
    • Current contact phone number (home phone and mobile if available

If you have tested positive for Covid:

  • Seek urgent medical help if you have increased shortness of breath by calling 999.
  • If you feel unwell contact your GP or 111.
  • To help manage your symptom visit: https://www.nhs.uk/co

Frequently asked questions:

What happens after I have contacted CMDU?

You will be phoned for an assessment as soon as possible after the CMDU receive your details. If the referral is received outside of the normal working hours of CMDU (Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm) then you will be contacted on the next working day. The assessment will take around 10-30 minutes. If after assessment you are eligible and suitable for treatment, the triage nurse will pass your assessment details to a prescriber to discuss with you the most appropriate treatment.

It is important that you answer our phone call so please make sure you stay close to your phone after you have contacted us.

You may be told that your immune system is working well, and you don’t need treatment for your Covid-19 infection.

If you need antiviral tablets, these will be dispensed at Lloyd’s pharmacy New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton and someone can come and pick them up for you (preferred), or we can deliver to you. Lloyd’s pharmacy will contact you when the medication is ready for collection. If you need an antiviral infusion (drip) we will refer you to the CMDU Home IV Team.  They will contact you to arrange your treatment.  This will be administered to you at home.

What happens for children?

Children aged 12 to 17 years old may be eligible to receive an antiviral infusion (drip) if they test positive for COVID-19.  If you are the parent or carer of a child over 12 who is at highest risk and who tests positive for covid-19, please contact the service using the ways described above.

Your child will be assessed in the same way as above, however we may  also speak  with your child’s specialist paediatric team.  If your child is aged 16-17 years of age and is also under adult services for their underlying health condition, treatment can be given at home by the CMDU IV Team.  For children aged between 12-17 years and not also under adult services treatment will be given by the CMDU IV Team on the Paediatric Assessment Unit at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

How do I know if I am eligible for treatment?

You may be at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you are an adult and have:

  • Down’s syndrome, or another chromosomal condition that affects your immune system
  • certain types of cancer, or had treatment for certain types of cancer
  • sickle cell disease
  • certain conditions affecting your blood
  • chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5
  • severe liver disease
  • had an organ transplant
  • certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
  • HIV or AIDS and have a weakened immune system
  • a condition affecting your immune system
  • a condition affecting the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or certain types of dementia
  • certain lung conditions or treatments for lung conditions

This list is a summary and does not cover everything. The criteria for children are different.

Find out more about people at the highest risk who are eligible for treatment at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta878/chapter/5-Supporting-information-on-risk-factors-for-progression-to-severe-COVID-19

How to get lateral flow tests to keep at home.

Lateral flow tests (known as LFD tests) are no longer be available via GOV.UK or via 119.

Instead, patients/patient representatives can collect one box of five LFD tests from a participating community pharmacy, on confirmation that the patient is part of the cohort that is potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments.

The test kits will currently continue to be supplied free of charge to these patients.

  • Take an LFD test as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if the symptoms are mild. Only use a test if you have symptoms.
  • If you test positive, call your general practice, NHS 111, or hospital specialist as soon as possible. You can also call CMDU yourself on the contact details above.
  • If you test negative, but still have symptoms of COVID-19, take a total of three rapid LFD tests over three consecutive days.

If any of the tests are positive, stop testing and contact your general practice, NHS 111, hospital specialist or CMDU as soon as possible.