COVID-19 advice hub

• Preventing infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including:
  • the vaccination programme
  • infection prevention in healthcare settings
  • stay at home and self-isolation guidance
  • action when a case of COVID-19 was not diagnosed on admission
• Investigation, including:
  • initial examination
  • sampling, testing, pathology
  • imaging
• Service design and resourcing, including:
  • minimum operating standards for a COVID-19 patient pathway
  • standard operating procedures for a priority assessment service
  • relevant professional body advice and statements
• Guidance on the clinical management of COVID-19-related disease, including:
  • acute care
  • airway management
  • critical care
  • patients with specific conditions or treatment needs
• Pharmacy
• Other areas, including:
  • autopsy/mortuary
  • clinical trials
  • dental and oral medicine
• Advising the public, including links for general advice to share
• The latest COVID-19 news from Specialised Medicine.

• COVID-19: vaccination programme guidance for healthcare practitioners
  Public Health England
• New national restrictions from 5 November
  Cabinet Office
• Joint guidance on infection prevention and control in healthcare settings
  Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Health Protection Scotland, and Public Health England
  
  • transmission characteristics of COVID-19
  • principles of infection prevention and control
  • organisational preparedness for preventing and controlling COVID-19
  • infection prevention and control precautions
  • standard infection control precautions
  • transmission based precautions for COVID-19
  • occupational health and staff deployment
  • specific settings
  • best practice regarding:
    • hand washing and rubbing
    • donning and doffing personal protective equipment
    • routine decontamination
    • management of blood and body fluid spillages
    • facial hair and FFP3 respirators.
• New government recommendations for England NHS hospital trusts and private hospital providers
  Public Health England
• Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
  Public Health England
• Guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging COVID-19 patients
  Public Health England
• Statement on dry skin and frequent handwashing to reduce Covid-19 risk
  British Association of Dermatologists
• ‘Stay at home’ guidance for people with confirmed or possible COVID-19 infection
  Public Health England
• Self-isolation guidance
  NHS.uk

Initial investigation

• Investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases, including case definitions
  Public Health England

Sampling and testing

• Criteria for testing
• Arranging testing, who to contact and where to send
• Suspected COVID-19 cases: which samples should be taken?
• Suspected COVID-19 cases: sampling and packaging
• COVID-19 screening request form

General collection of guidance for diagnostic sampling

Public Health England

• How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work
  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• Advice on histopathology frozen sections and cytology fine needle aspiration during infectious disease outbreaks
  Royal College of Pathologists
• Endoscopy activity and COVID-19
  British Society of Gastroenterology and the Joint Advisory Group

Pathology

• Guidance for remote reporting of digital pathology slides during periods of exceptional service pressure
  Royal College of Pathologists

Imaging

• Position statement on the role of CT in patients suspected with COVID-19 infection
  Royal College of Radiologists

• Next steps on NHS response to COVID-19 (7 July 2020), including:

1. 1. stepping back up of key reporting and management functions
   2. freeing up maximum possible inpatient and critical care capacity
   3. preparing, and responding to, large numbers of inpatients requiring respiratory support
   4. supporting staff, and maximising staff availability
   5. supporting newly announced wider population measures
   6. stress-testing operational readiness
   7. removing routine burdens

• Standard operating procedure for coronavirus

NHS England

• Drug demand–supply guidance, including:
  • anaesthetic use and administration
  • medicine prescribing and administration

Royal College of Anaesthetists, Association of Anaesthetists, Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Intensive Care Society, and UK Clinical Pharmacy Association

• Advice on multidisciplinary team meetings during infectious disease outbreaks
  Royal College of Pathologists
• Surgical colleges joint hub for coronavirus advice
  Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Statement on COVID-19 and potential redeployment of pathologists
  Royal College of Pathologists

Acute care

• Management guides for specific specialties
  NHS England

COVID-19 rapid NICE guidelines:

• Critical care (NG159)
• Dialysis service delivery (NG160)
• Delivery of systemic anticancer treatments (NG161)
• Delivery of radiotherapy (NG162)
• Managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community (NG163)
• Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (NG164)
• Managing suspected or confirmed pneumonia in adults in the community (NG165)
• Severe asthma (NG166)
• Rheumatological autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic bone disorders (NG167)
• Community-based care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (NG168)
• Dermatological conditions treated with drugs affecting the immune response (NG169)
• Cystic fibrosis (NG170)
• Acute myocardial injury (NG171)
• Gastrointestinal and liver conditions treated with drugs affecting the immune response (NG172)
• Antibiotics for pneumonia in adults in hospital (NG173)
• Children and young people who are immunocompromised (NG174)
• Acute kidney injury in hospital (NG175)
• Chronic kidney disease (NG176)
• Interstitial lung disease (NG177)
• Renal transplantation (NG178)
• Arranging planned care in hospitals and diagnostic services (NG179)
• Reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism in over 16s with COVID-19 (NG186)

Rapid evidence summaries:

• Acute use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for people with or at risk of COVID-19 (ES23)
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in people with or at risk of COVID-19 (ES24)
• Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for people with or at risk of COVID-19 (ES25)
• Anakinra for COVID-19 associated secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (ES26)
• Remdesivir for treating hospitalised patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (ES27)
• Vitamin D for COVID-19 (ES28)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Specific treatments:

• Interim Clinical Commissioning Policy: Remdesivir for patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (adults and children 12 years and older)
  NHS England
• Dexamethasone and COVID-19
  Specialist Pharmacy Service

• Interim guidance on clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) when COVID-19 disease is suspected
  World Health Organization

• Clinical guidance for COVID-19, including:
  • airway management principles and checklists
  • critical care preparation and management
  • obsetric anaesthesia
  • hip and fragility fractures
  • restarting planned surgery
  • paediatric management
  • anaesthesia in low resource settings

Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine

• Clinical guide for the management of critical care patients during the coronavirus pandemic
  NHS England
• Use of acute non-invasive ventilation in patients hospitalised with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
  British Thoracic Society

• Statements and resources on COVID-19, CPR, and resuscitation
  Resuscitation Council UK

• Guidance on the management of drugs requiring monitoring during COVID-19
  Specialist Pharmacy Service

Specific patient groups and conditions

Adrenal/pituitary insufficiency

• COVID-19 advice statement for patients with adrenal/pituitary insufficiency
  Society for Endocrinology

Asthma

• Advice for healthcare professionals treating people with asthma (adults) in relation to COVID‐19 (download)
  British Thoracic Society

Cancer

• Position statement on coronavirus (COVID-19) for clinical oncology
  Royal College of Radiologists

Chronic myeloid leukaemia

• COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia receiving TKI therapy
  National Cancer Research Institute

Liver cancer

• Management of primary hepatic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations for risk mitigation from a multidisciplinary perspective
  Barry A, Apisarnthanarax S, O’Kane G et al. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020. Published online, 5 June 2020.

Cardiovascular disease

• Guidance for the diagnosis and management of CV disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
  European Society of Cardiology

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• COPD and COVID-19 for healthcare professionals (download)
  British Thoracic Society

Coagulopathy

• Practical guidance for the prevention of thrombosis and management of coagulopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation of patients infected with COVID-19
  British Society of Haematology
• Interim guidance on recognition and management of coagulopathy in COVID-19
  International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Congenital heart disease

• COVID-19 guidance for vulnerable groups with congenital heart disease
  British Congenital Cardiac Association
• Adult congenital heart disease and the COVID-19 pandemic
  Radke R, Frenzel T, Baumgartner H, Diller G. Heart 2020. Published online, 10 June 2020.

Diabetes

• Clinical guide for the management of people with diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic
  NHS England
• At a glance factsheet: COVID-19 and diabetes
  Primary Care Diabetes Society

Fragility fractures

• Clinical guide for the perioperative care of people with fragility fractures during the coronavirus pandemic
  Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine

Gastroenterology

• Advice for IBD & liver clinicians on identifying immunosuppressed patients for shielding
  British Society of Gastroenterology and Royal College of Physicians
• Advice on COVID-19 for patients with gastrointestinal or liver conditions
  British Society of Gastroenterology
• COVID-19: BSG and BASL advice for healthcare professionals in gastroenterology and hepatology
  British Society of Gastroenterology and the British Association for the Study of the Liver
• Triage guidelines for upper gastrointestinal physiology during restoration of services during the COVID-19 pandemic
  Association of Gastrointestinal Physiologists
• Advice on use of TIPPS as salvage therapy and the prevention of variceal bleeding during COVID-19
  British Society of Gastroenterology and British Association for the Study of the Liver

Gynaecology

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) and gynaecological services
  Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Management of urogynaecological conditions and vaginal pessary use during COVID-19 Pandemic
  British Society of Urogynaecology

Haematology

• Care of haematology patients in a COVID‐19 epidemic
  British Journal of Haematology
• Managing haematology and oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim consensus guidance
  [Australian] National Centre for Infections in Cancer

Hepatology

• Advice for IBD & liver clinicians on identifying immunosuppressed patients for shielding
  British Society of Gastroenterology and Royal College of Physicians
• Advice on COVID-19 for patients with gastrointestinal or liver conditions
  British Society of Gastroenterology
• COVID-19: BSG and BASL advice for healthcare professionals in gastroenterology and hepatology
  British Society of Gastroenterology and the British Association for the Study of the Liver
• BSG/BASL COVID-19 advice on hepatalogy patient risk groups
  British Society of Gastroenterology and the British Association for the Study of the Liver

HIV

• Guidance for the management of adults with HIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART) during the coronavirus pandemic
  British HIV Association
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) and HIV statements
  British HIV Association

Hypertension

Receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy

The current international consensus is that there is no good evidence that stopping ACEis or ARBs will prevent or alleviate COVID-19.

• Joint statement with regards to the treatment of patients with ACEi or ARB in relation to COVID-19
  British Cardiovascular Society and British Society for Heart Failure
• Position statement on hypertension on ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers
  European Society for Cardiology
• Statement on COVID-19
  International Society of Hypertension
• Position statement on COVID-19 and ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use
  The Renal Association UK

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura

• Information for adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia in the setting of COVID-19 pandemic
  UK ITP Forum, ITP

Immunosuppression

• Immunosuppressive treatments in dermatology
  British Association of Dermatologists

Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

• Guidance for management of inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
  British Society of Gastroenterology
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs for people with Crohn’s and colitis (immunosuppressives and 5-aminosalicylic acid [5-ASA])
  Crohn’s and Colitis UK

Interstitial lung disease

• Advice for managing interstitial lung disease patients during COVID-19 pandemic (download)
  British Thoracic Society

Lung cancer and mesothelioma

• Lung cancer and mesothelioma service guidance during the COVID‐19 pandemic (download)
  British Thoracic Society

Multiple sclerosis

• Guidance on COVID-19 and neurological conditions, including the use of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis in response to the threat of a coronavirus epidemic
  Association of British Neurologists

Obstructive sleep apnoea

• Guidance regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA): for people who routinely use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), their families and health care workers
  British Thoracic Society, British Sleep Society, Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology, Sleep Apnoea Trust Association

Ophthalmology

• COVID-19 clinical guidelines for ophthalmologists
  Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Paediatrics

• Paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19
  Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Guidance for the clinical management of children admitted to hospital with proven COVID-19
  Alder Hey’s Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
• COVID-19 guidance for paediatric services
  Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Psoriasis

• Statement on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
  International Psoriasis Council

Pregnancy

• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advice for coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in pregnancy
  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Guidance on obstetric anaesthesia
  Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association
• Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle, including further information on CO monitoring and fetal growth surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic
  NHS England

Rheumatological conditions

• COVID-19 guidance
  British Society for Rheumatology

Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia

• Advice on COVID-19 in patients with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
  Haemoglobinopathy Co-ordinating Centres

Stroke

• Adapting stroke services during the COVID-19 pandemic: an implementation guide
  British Association of Stroke Physicians
• Restoration and recovery of stroke services during the COVID-19 pandemic
  Oxford Academic Health Science Network
• Adapting stroke services during the COVID-19 pandemic: an implementation guide
  Oxford Academic Health Science Network

Surgery

• Clinical advice for the management of surgical patients
  NHS England

Transfusion

• Information and updates to help clinical and laboratory staff manage the impact of COVID-19
  NHS Blood and Transplant

Transplantation

• Coronavirus: COVID-19 information for transplant professionals
  British Transplantation Society

Trauma and orthopaedics

• Clinical guide for the management of trauma and orthopaedic patients during the coronavirus pandemic
  NHS England

Patients taking warfarin

• Guidance for the safe switching of warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for patients with non-valvular AF and venous thromboembolism (DVT / PE) during the coronavirus pandemic
  Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• INR testing for out-patients on warfarin during COVID-19 restrictions
  British Society for Haematology

Equipment standards

• Specification for ventilators to be used in UK hospitals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) important information & updates for pharmacists
  Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
• COVID-19 critical care training resources
  Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Autopsy/mortuary

• Briefing on COVID-19—autopsy practice relating to possible cases of COVID-19
  Royal College of Pathologists
• Transmission-based precautions—guidance for care of deceased during COVID-19 pandemic
  Royal College of Pathologists

Clinical trials

National

• Clinical trials applications for coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Managing clinical trials during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

• COVID-19: guidance for sponsors, sites, and researchers

NHS Health Research Authority

European

• Guidance for medicine developers and companies on COVID-19
• Call to pool research resources into large multi-centre, multi-arm clinical trials to generate sound evidence on COVID-19 treatments
• Guidance to sponsors on how to manage clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic

European Commission, European Medicines Agency, and Head of Medicines Agencies

Dental and oral medicine

• COVID-19 latest guidance for England
  General Dental Council
• Dental practice
  NHS England

• Overview—coronavirus (COVID-19)
  NHS.uk
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public
  World Health Organization
• COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing
  Public Health England
• COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
  Public Health England

COVID matters report: urgent lung cancer specialist referrals down 75% in the first wave

New and updated guidance issued by NICE on a range of topics, including COVID-19

Nuffield Trust report examines COVID-19 and the use of digital technology in the NHS

Guidance issued on the use of anticoagulants during the COVID-19 pandemic

NICE updates COVID-19 rapid guidelines on dialysis, cystic fibrosis, and managing symptoms including at the end of life

New report: maintaining a cancer service in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic

A third of patients with cancer report disruptions to their treatment caused by the pandemic

Research study examining ‘long COVID’ launched in the UK

Public Health England issues updated infection prevention and control guidance

NICE updates a series of COVID-19 rapid guidelines

Report on the health and social care response to COVID-19 published

Letter on third phase of NHS response to COVID-19 released

NHS announces £160 million funding for COVID-friendly cancer treatments

New study examines the effect of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system

PHE publishes new evidence on the relationship between excess weight and COVID-19

NICE publishes COVID-19 guidance on arranging planned care in hospitals and diagnostic services

The Nuffield Trust issues guide to resuming health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Priorities for health and care following the COVID-19 pandemic identified by The King’s Fund

Position paper on mental healthcare reform after COVID-19 published

New study examines the impact of COVID-19 on cancer deaths in England

Tool created to monitor the wider impacts of COVID-19 on health

Interferon beta treatment may reduce the need for intensive care in patients with COVID-19

PHE issues guidance on maintaining immunisation programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Neurological associations of COVID-19 reported

Shielding to end for the majority of clinical extremely vulnerable children

Royal Osteoporosis Society publishes guidance on care during and beyond the pandemic