Getting your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself from the virus.
Treatments may be available if you’re at highest risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus. You need to be given treatment quickly after your symptoms start for it to be effective.
You’re eligible to be assessed for treatment if all of the following apply:
You may be at highest risk if you have any of the following conditions:
This list is a summary and does not cover everything.
You should be told if you are eligible for coronavirus treatment. If you think you are eligible but have not been told, speak to your doctor or specialist who can confirm it.
Find more guidance for highest risk patients eligible for coronavirus treatment on GOV.UK
The decision to treat will normally be made by a multi-disciplinary team after carefully weighing the risks and benefits. They’ll take into consideration the recommendations from the independent advisory group, which determined the list of potentially eligible patient groups.
Treatments can help some people manage their coronavirus symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.
Some coronavirus treatments come as capsules or tablets that you swallow. Others are given to you through a drip in your arm (infusion), usually in a hospital or local health centre.
The NHS will advise which treatment, if any, is right for you.
If you’re eligible for coronavirus treatments, you should keep a pack of lateral flow device (LFD) tests at home.
If you develop symptoms, take a test to check if you have coronavirus.
If you cannot order online, you can phone the testing helpline on 0800 008 6587. The helpline is free from mobiles and landlines. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Lines are closed on Sundays and bank holidays. They have a translation service. SignVideo (a free online British Sign Language interpreter service) is also available.
Your LFD test is not complete until you report your result, either online or by phoning 0800 008 6587.
If your test result is positive, you should:
If your test result is negative, but you still have symptoms, you should take another test on each of the next 2 days. So take 3 tests in total over 3 days. If any of these tests is positive, follow the steps for a positive test result.
If you’re eligible, contact the health board where you live to access treatment.
If you test positive while you’re away from home (for example on holiday), contact your home Scottish health board where you permanently live. This is because your home health board (in Scotland) will have access to more information about you. They’ll then help you to access the closest treatment service to where you currently are.
You may reach an answering machine and be asked to leave a message.
When you phone, have a list of medicines you’re taking handy, including:
Do not phone these numbers if you’re seeking urgent medical advice or have a general health query.
Health board | Phone number |
NHS Ayrshire & Arran | 01563 825 610 |
NHS Borders | 01896 827 015 |
NHS Dumfries & Galloway | 01387 241 959 |
NHS Fife | 01592 729 799 |
NHS Forth Valley | 01786 434 110 |
NHS Grampian | 01224 556 527 |
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde | 0800 121 7072 |
NHS Highland | 0800 085 1558 |
NHS Lanarkshire | 01355 585 145 |
NHS Lothian | 0300 790 6769 |
NHS Orkney | 01856 888 259 |
NHS Shetland | 01595 743 393 |
NHS Tayside (open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday) | 01382 919 477 |
NHS Western Isles | 01851 601 151 |
Coronavirus oral antiviral treatments are being evaluated through a study called PANORAMIC, run by the University of Oxford.
People across Scotland took part in the first stage of the study which evaluated a medicine called molnupiravir. This stage of the study has now closed.
The second stage of the study is evaluating a medicine called Paxlovid. This stage is taking place through localised study sites. This is because the health professionals recruiting participants into the study need access to medical record data to see if the medicine is suitable for individuals before they can enter the study.
For more information about the study, and to register your interest in participating, visit the PANORAMIC trial website or contact communications@nrs.org.uk
Last updated:
22 February 2024