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: 2 April 2020

Guidance for Primary Care

• United Kingdom 
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Novel coronavirus: key questions and answers on the outbreak | Nursing Times
• PHE: rapid tests for use in community pharmacies or at home

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.

Please see the ARTP guidelines for COVID-19 for advice on lung function testing including spirometry.

The latest NHS guidance including information on severe acute respiratory infection.

• IPCRG Covid-19 information page
• BTS Covid-19 information page
• Royal College of Nursing
• GINA COVID-19 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Asthma Management
• Sarcoidosis UK

Guidance on Shielding

• BTS COVID-19: identifying patients for shielding
• Athma UK: Shielding advice for very high-risk groups
• 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.

Other Information

• https://www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/rcgp-policy-areas/covid-19-coronavirus.aspx
• https://www.rcgp.org.uk/about-us/rcgp-blog/covid-19--practical-things-for-general-practice-to-do.aspx 
• https://gard-breathefreely.org/

Other Resources

• Advice for Patients
• Learn More About COVID-19
• Shared Resources for Healthcare Professionals
• Resuscitation Council UK: https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/resuscitation-council-uk-statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/covid-community/

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