The former Deputy Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van Tam commissioned a clinical expert group led by Professor Ian McInnes. The group were to deliver a set clinical condition identifying those people most at risk of developing the severe effects of COVID-19 infection within the current vaccinated population of the UK.
NHS England developed the clinical policy for the neutralising monoclonal antibodies and antivirals treatments for COVID-19.
They commissioned the creation of a digital rule logic, based on the clinical policy to identify people within England, with a positive COVID-19 PCR or LFT (Lateral Flow Test), who are at most risk of developing severe complications of COVID-19 infection.
This would enable these people to receive treatment at early disease stage in the community, reducing the risk of worsening disease and hospital admission.
Centrally held patient data is used to identify people who may be at high risk of COVID-19 complications. These people may not be able to gain the full benefit from immunisation, due to an inability to launch a full immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.
The cohorting rule logic will enable people at risk of severe complications due to COVID-19 infection to be treated at an early disease stage in the community, reducing the risk of worsening disease and hospital admission.
Generally, an inclusive approach has been used, where nuanced data is not available for people to be included, or excluded for treatment at the point of telephone clinical triage.
Where patients are not able to be identified digitally, a non-digital pathway is available.
Changes in policy prior to April 2023 have been reviewed and reflected in the digital rule set.
The details of any changes following the initial release of the service are summarised below.