COVID-19 & Rescue Packs

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Rescue Packs (25.03.2020)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – wrong information on social media

Please do not contact your GP practice for a rescue pack. You should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19, go to https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 before doing anything else.

We’ve seen inaccurate information on social media regarding special ‘rescue packs’ containing antibiotics and steroid tablets for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

This is not an appropriate treatment for most people with respiratory conditions.

Rescue packs should only be used in those people who have previously been prescribed them to manage flare ups of COPD as part of their agreed management plan.

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) is a new virus and there is very limited information on the use of steroids in the treatment of this illness.

They are not currently recommended as a routine treatment in patients with Covid-19 (Coronavirus).

Further health advice on Covid-19 (Coronavirus) for people with respiratory conditions can be found on the following sites:

Asthma UK https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

British Lung Foundation https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus