Changes to NHS England LFD supply service
Changes made on May 1st 2025 to the NICE guidance on antiviral treatment for COVID-19, means the following patient cohorts are NO LONGER ELIGIBLE to receive free LFD tests through the service:
- people aged 85 years and over
- people with end-stage heart failure who have a long-term ventricular assistance device
- people on the organ transplant waiting list
- people aged 70 years and over, or who have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more, diabetes or heart failure, and:
- are resident in a care home, or
- are already hospitalised
Eligible patients who can access the service can be found in NICE guidelines Supporting information on risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19.
We have updated the SOP to reflect these changes, it can be downloaded here:
Pharmacies must stop supplying LFD tests to the above non-eligible patient groups as soon as they are able to do so but at the latest by Monday 16th June 2025.
The service specification is in the process of being updated to incorporate these changes.