COVID-19 Information for primary, community and integrated care teams

The Coronavirus pandemic is creating a particularly challenging environment for primary, community and integrated teams to deliver care to patients with respiratory disease. The situation is evolving creating constant change.

Last Updated: 06 May 2020

Current advice by UK Nation

• England
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales

Advice from other Health Professions

• ARTP guidelines for COVID-19 for advice on lung function testing including spirometry
• ARTP COVID-19 Infection Control Issues for Lung Function
• BTS COVID-19 information page
• GINA COVID-19 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Asthma Management
• Good Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases
• Health Protection Scotland COVID-19 compendium
• IPCRG COVID-19 information page
• NHS London Primary and Community Care Respiratory Resource Pack during COVID-19 (v5)
• RCGP COVID-19 information page
• RCGP: Practical things for general practice to do
• Resuscitation Council UK
• Royal College of Nursing
• Sarcoidosis UK

BTS has produced brief guidance for Community Respiratory Services in relation to COVID-19 (PDF download) and advice re PR classes is to stop classes to reduce the risk to patients, and to enable staff redeployment to acute community settings. Consider alternative methods of rehab such as online and web‐based resources.

PHE: rapid tests for use in community pharmacies or at home

Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation have developed a Post-COVID Hub for patients, researchers and professionals.

Latest from NICE

NICE has issued new rapid guidance on caring for patients in the community with severe asthma and adults with suspected or confirmed pneumonia. There is also rapid guidance from NICE on managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community and guidelines on the community management of patients with COPD.

Guidance on Shielding

• Asthma UK: Shielding advice for very high-risk groups
• BTS COVID-19: identifying patients for shielding
• NHS Digital screening algorithm
• Targeted system searches for higher risk patients (COVID-19) PRIMIS is developing some stand-alone system searches to help practices identify and target higher risk patient groups in relation to COVID-19. These searches can be downloaded and imported into your GP clinical system free of charge.

Patient Resources

• Asthma UK
• British Lung Foundation
• BLF: Keeping active with a lung condition
• Children's Commissioner Children's guide to coronavirus
• COVID-19 Symptom Tracker App available to download on Android and Apple
• NIHR: Managing breathlessness at home during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Post-COVID Hub by Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation

Other PCRS Resources

• Practical guide for clinicians and commissioners in supporting patients to recover after COVID-19
• Advice for Patients
• Learn More About COVID-19
• Shared Resources for Healthcare Professionals

If you have a  COVID-19 resource you would like to share, please contact us.