NW London COVID Medicine Delivery Unit (CMDU)
From 8 July 2024, the Covid-19 Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) Service changed from a Chelsea & Westminster hospital led service to a primary care led service.
We have two Providers that offer triage, assessment and treatment for COVID-19 positive patients to ensure access to COVID-19 treatments. These are as per below:
In addition, there are 16 community nominated pharmacies that will stock, dispense oral antiviral medication nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid®) with delivery an option (if required) to ensure local accessibility.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Confirmed COVID-19 (LFT) within the last 5 days AND
- Onset of symptomatic COVID-19 within the last 5* days AND
- Patient has an increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 as defined by supporting information on risk factors for progression to severe COVID‑19
- or
- aged 85 years and over or
- have end-stage heart failure and have a long-term ventricular assistance device (a mechanical device that helps the heart pump blood) or
- are on the organ transplant waiting list or
- are a resident in a care home or already in hospital AND are:
o aged 70 years and over or
o who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or more or
o diabetes or
o heart failure
Referral:Patients should be referred to the service via email
by their registered GP or 111 only. Patients need to be screened for eligibility (all providers are asked to use the screening tool first - and only ask the patient to contact the GP or 111 if the criterion is met or there is uncertainty) and referred using the form located in North West London Shared Folder – COVID19 Folder – NWL ICS COVID19 Paxlovid Screening Tool CMDU 2024 2025 (this is also the referral form) set up within the primary care IT systems. This tool is also attached for your information.
The service is available from Monday to Saturday.
If referred, please inform the patient that the service will contact them within the next 24 working hours to discuss whether they may benefit from treatment. If the patient does not hear from the service within 24 working hours (Mon-Sat), they should follow up.
Patients can also be referred into the service through 111.
Community Services, Mental Health Services and Secondary Care ServicesIf a patient in the community setting meets the eligible criterion for antiviral medication – please advise them to contact their registered GP or 111 to be referred to the service.
For secondary care patients currently monitored in a virtual ward
and already under the care of a Respiratory Consultant – please contact the respiratory team - as any evaluation and assessment and subsequent prescribing will be lead by this team.
NW London CMDU - Paxlovid screening toolDownload the letter here. 