For those in Scotland (shielding advice)

[WindsweptRissa]

I’ve just watched a question and answer session with the director of NHS Shetland. He was asked about when people would receive information if they were in the highly vulnerable category (those to be shielded). The reason why people in England have been getting their texts and letters earlier is that the systems in England are different. In Scotland the boards etc are consulting with individual health centres to make sure that no one that should be in the group is missed out, so we will receive information but it is taking longer as the process is less automated. His advice was basically, if you think you are in the group you should follow the shielding advice while you wait to hear. So if you think you might be in the group follow the advice and if you don’t hear anything soon you can always check with your G.P. Just thought I’d pass this on as I think a lot of us have been left wondering after seeing all the posts from people in England.

[Evo25]

Thanks for the update WindsweptRissa. I know they said there were 200,000 people to contact in Scotland but since then I've heard nothing.

Take care, Evo.

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Evo25]

I haven’t either yet, but as I meet 3 of the criteria with regards to medication according to AsthmaUK I’m just assuming I am in the shielding club, so I’m not waiting for a letter to adopt the shielding advice.

[Poobah]

I'm not sure that NHS England has caught everyone and wouldn't be surprised if they had to round up those missed. It's quick but not quite exact.

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Poobah]

That’s what I was thinking. Maybe Scotland is slower to get the first letters out, but England is probably going to have to do the same to check they haven’t missed anyone.

[Hidden]

As health services are devolved in Scotland and Wales, nothing set up by NHS England applies to people living in those countries. Perhaps there’s information on the NHS Scotland website?

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Hidden]

There is and it’s the guidance is the same as NHS England

[Hidden]

Thanks for this. I know I have severe asthma so am following the shielding advice but wondered if we would get anything official.

[Alliecat]

Received the letter yesterday about Shielding..I am in Scotland so a lot of what people say are people from England ...some rules are different in Scotland...hope you got the letter by now

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Alliecat]

No it seems I’m not going to be getting a letter because I’ve had 3 not 4 courses of steroids in the qualifying time, but I’m going to be following most of the shielding advice as per asthma uk advice and the advice of my GP, although as I live in a rural location I will take my daughters and my dogs for a walk.

[Alliecat]

Good idea.. would love to take the dog a walk... but I react to temp changes and dont want to chance it...

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Alliecat]

Scratch that. Just had a call from the GP to say I am on their list of people to be shielded and to call the surgery if I haven’t had a letter by Friday and told, no I’m not to go out for a walk. Also told I need to call in every Monday to let the surgery know how I am.

[Alliecat]

Oh ok.. I haven't been told to call surgery....but at least you know now.... just be careful and take care of yourself x

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Alliecat]

It’s probably just something my surgery have decided to do. I live on an island with a population of about 1,000 so I don’t suppose there are that many people in the shielding category. You take care too

[Alliecat]

Yeah that could be it... thing is I cancelled my broadband and phone so now the dr cant reach me through that... not sure if they have my mobile number... so wondering whether to call them and give them my mobile number

[WindsweptRissa in reply to Alliecat]

Would probably be a good idea

[EdinburghLass1977]

I got my Shielding letter yesterday. I’m under NHS Lothian. It didn’t come from the GP practice though. Comes from NHS/Chief Medical Advisor

[WindsweptRissa in reply to EdinburghLass1977]

Yeah, got the official letter today. GP was just telephoning anyone who he had been told was on the list. He must have got the info quicker and it was taking a bit longer to get all the individual letters out.