I Hope we are all okay in this awful times we are in. Anyway I need some advice if any one could help me?
I have asmtha which I've had from a young child. Medication salbutamol, fostfair inhaler I take. I've been advised to isolate for 3 months. But unfortunately this does not pay my bills. I rang my doctors he told me I was not on the high risk group so I would be okay so I said if I get ill and catch this virus then what he couldn't answer. So he said the government haven't given them a clear picture of the high risks etc. I work for ASDA and without the letter financial wise I'm not going to get paid. I would appreciate if anyone could point me into the right direction and thank you in advance.
Terry
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Terry40
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It does seem that many GPs are being given mixed info. But according to the respiratory consultant I am under, the high risk category includes asthmatics who have either been hospitalised in the previous 12 months, or are on particular medication ( including spriva respimat, Montelukast and Relvar). I'm not sure if Fostair is on there, I think.the high dose 200/6 is, but I'm not certain about lower dose.
One gp I spoke to said it only applies to people who have been in ICU for asthma, but this is categorically not true.
I've never been in ICU and I've been sent the shielding letter and various texts from the NHS coronavirus service.... so I second you on ICU admissions being incorrect
GPS are responsible for those patients who have yet to be identified as high risk, namely Group 4. Your GP should follow instructions set out in the Chief Medical Officer's letter dated 23 March.
If your GP does not think you fall into Group 4 then you need to talk to Asda HR & ask for an occupational health review in respect of risks posed by Covid-19 in the workplace with specific regards to your asthma. The review will identify reasonable adjustments that will shield you from any potential risks. This may mean a change of duties so you can practice strict social distancing. As a large employer their options are greater and reasonable adjustments should be much easier for them to implement than a very small employer.
The original advice was anyone on Salamol - Fostair or tiotropium and over 70 would get a call or a letter - I am 83 on Salamol and tiotropium - but !?!?! nothing. Have had to collect my ongoing medication from an outside window of the Surgery.
They did however point me in the direction of my local chemist who are operating a home delivery service. !?!?!
Please ask for your pharmacy to deliver your medication from now on ask now before they are due as know some say hold up on delivery. I hope you have lots of support if not ask. You are a wonderful age but with chest issues you should stay in for 12 weeks. Please stay safe don't risk not getting to 84. I don't think we need letters txts etc to tell us to stay safe our chests tell us that. Some are arriving late, cancer transplants etc will be first. 😊
It seems some GP's are not up on the guidance Asthma UK is clear who should get a shielding letter and those who won't get a shielding letter BUT who should also be shielding.
I appreciate the difficulties if you have a GP who doesn't understand this as you need their support with employers.
Can you ask another GP in your practice for support useing the link below and see if they can help?
This advice has been agreed in collaboration with the National Clinical Director for Respiratory at NHS England.
My GP surgery website has Asthma UK guidance on as a link.
A GP from my surgery even one I don't get on with and don't see rang following my eConsult and clarified.
No I don't fit shielding letter from NHS England BUT being on the following means I should be shielding.
Duoresp Spiriva 160/6 - 2 puffs twice a day with allowance to take another 8 puffs during the day instead of Ventolin plus Ventolin if needed and Monteleukast as well as use of Cpap machine.
You are clearly not a severe asthmatic- I take 4 meds daily plus occasionally a nebuliser and received the shielding letter the day after the announcement- be happy you are able to work and contribute to those less fortunate
You have no idea of this persons medical history and can therefore not judge what category they fall into.. Just because someone doesn't fall into the shielding category doesn't mean they are not at increased risk. ALL asthmatics fall into the vulnerable group, which means strict social distancing. All workplaces have a responsibility to initiate this and where it is not possible the worker should be furloughed.
This is scary and unprecedented times especially for an asthmatic, so i think putting yourself at risk knowing healthy people have died is hardly going to make you feel happy!
You wrote the exact same unhelpful reply when I posted a very similar thread.
Do you work? Because if you don't you have no right to tell those of us who haven't received a letter we should be happy to go to work. When we also have issues
I haven't got a letter or text either, yet I am diagnosed as severe and under 2 specialists, but I have queried this on 4 occasions now and been verbally told at my Xolair injection this week to sheild and they are sorting me a letter.
I work part time and am a key worker and take 4 inhalers, bambac, montelukast, rescue steriods and uniphllyin.
Everyone's circumstances are different and thousands have slipped the net in letters and texts.
Yeah in store they haven't got anything to protect the workers at asda it's distgusting they ain't even following the other supermarkets. Money before people health
Not sure what advice you've been given but the 80% government rule doesn't apply to asd# workers as the company has said it will pay all vulnerable people upto 12 weeks full money, ( not crappy sick pay. Full Pay).
As far as I know you don't need the letter.(YET)
Fostair prescription is one the listed medications for vulnerable groups, especially 200/6
Don't let them scare you back before you feel safe.
You should of been sent a letter off the N H S to take into work , If you are high risk or been in hospital for your Asthma. Then Asda will pay you for three months. I didn't get a letter so I have to go to work.
Good luck if you get one or you can reduce your hrs or work where your not near people.
I work for ASDA I contacted the manger and this was her reply
Please find below the government guidelines on colleagues that fall into the vulnerable group. The guidance is that we will pay colleagues that fall under this group who choose to remain at home their contractual full pay not 80%.
This will be from 23rd March 2020 to 15th June 2020 inclusive.
The government guidance for vulnerable individuals and those who share a household with an extremely vulnerable individual is that they need to follow stringent social distancing practices.
We have put in place far reaching measures across all of our stores and depots to help with these social distancing requirements, however we do know that some of our more vulnerable colleagues are nervous about returning to work. Therefore, we have made the decision to also allow colleagues who are vulnerable or who live in a household with someone who is extremely vulnerable to stay at home for 12 weeks from Monday 23rd March:
These colleagues will be paid their full contracted hours and will be welcomed back into their role.
We will process seven days holiday from the annual entitlement. This is because colleagues will accrue holiday during the 12 weeks then may struggle to fit into the holiday year.
I agree not much social distancing, In that place, when there's too many people down an aisle. Then you have the home shoppers coming in early, and there's definitely no social distancing between them. They said they would put you away from others , what a joke..
Yeah I agree they haven't got any cleaning stuff for trolleys or anything Tesco Sainsburys are doing it with asda they like to do everything on the cheap. Be safe yourself health before money x
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A new area for sensitive posts - what do you think?
Feeling confused, brain overload, advice/thoughts please so can process this info. 
Guilt
I missed a chest infection??
