Lateral Flow Device Tests Supply Service (LFD Service)
The NHS Lateral Flow Device Tests Supply Service for patients potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments (LFD service) will be commissioned from 6th November 2023. The service will allow eligible patients, e.g. aged 12 years and over with risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19 and therefore potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments, to obtain free LFD test kits from participating pharmacies.
This will be a walk-in service where patients or their representatives can collect one box of 5 LFD tests on confirmation that the patient is part of the potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments cohort. The full list of eligible patients aged 12 years and over that are at risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and therefore potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments can be found in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance Supporting information on risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19.
A service fee of £4 + VAT will be paid for each completed transaction of the supply of one box of five COVID-19 LFD test kits and the cost of tests supplied will be paid according to arrangements set out in the November 2023 Drug Tariff.
When ready to provide the service, pharmacy owners will be able to sign up on the NHSBSA’s MYS portal from 6th November 2023, after which they will be able to provide the service. See the NHSE Letter for an overview of the service.
Resources
Implementation checklist (PDF)
Please note, at the time of publication of the above checklist, NHSBSA has not yet added the MYS portal declaration to allow pharmacy owners to sign-up to provide the service. NHS Profile Manager has also not been updated to allow pharmacy owners to update their profiles to show that they are offering the service.
Template Standard Operating Procedure (Microsoft Word)
Team briefing sheet for the service (PDF)
Eligible patient groups list (PDF)
Data collection form (PDF)
Last Updated: 27th October 2023
