LFD service myth busting series (#3)
This is the third of a series of articles to tackle some of the misconceptions around the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) service. The articles will cover a variety of aspects of the LFD service and aims to myth bust, to increase understanding of the service.
All patients aged 85 years and over are eligible for LFD tests via the LFD service.
Wrong! Last year there was an update to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on antiviral treatment for COVID-19, which removed some of the cohorts of patients eligible for these treatments. These changes were reflected in the eligibility for the Lateral Flow Device (LFD) service.
One of the patient cohorts no longer eligible to receive free LFD tests through the service is all patients aged 85 years and over. Some patients aged 85 years and over may still be eligible for the service if they fall into another cohort, for example, if they also have a medical condition listed in the above NICE guidance; however, they are not eligible just based on their age.
NHS Profile Manager was automatically updated when I registered for the service on MYS to show on my pharmacy profile that I provide the LFD service. Therefore I do not need to update NHS Profile Manager.
Wrong! There was no automatic update therefore the pharmacy owner needs to ensure that someone has updated NHS Profile Manger so it shows on the pharmacy’s NHS website profile that they provide the service. This will also ensure that the pharmacy is listed as a provider of the service on the NHS website’s Find a pharmacy that offers free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests search tool.
If someone asks for free LFD test kits, I can supply these under the LFD service without checking for eligibility.
Wrong! Pharmacy teams are required to confirm the patient’s eligibility for a supply of an LFD test kit. This could be by:
- Seeing the patient’s NHS letter which confirms eligibility (not all patients will have been sent a letter);
- Having a discussion with the patient or their representative about the patient and their medical history, confirming they have a qualifying condition or qualify due to age. The pharmacist or pharmacy technician may wish to review the pharmacy’s PMR or the National Care Records Service (NCRS) and then use their clinical judgement; or
- Referring to the pharmacy’s clinical records for the service, where the pharmacy has previously seen and made a record of having seen a copy of the patient’s NHS letter confirming eligibility or has previously had a discussion with the patient or their representative which confirmed their eligibility and a record of this was made.
The pharmacy team should satisfy themselves that the patient is eligible, i.e. has at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19 as set out in the NICE guidelines.
