Return of shielding

[EvieJo]

Hi all, looks like shielding is to return from tomorrow with letters being sent out in the next week. My letters have been patchy since the start so I’m nit expecting anything. I won’t be shielding again, I did it for the best part of 4 months and overall it was not good for me. I am still trying to sort things out at work from my last return which has been incredibly stressful in itself. I will of course abide by the lockdown rules and do all I can to keep myself safe but it ends there - can’t go on like this. COVID is potentially very bad news for us and I get that but so are a lot of things! I will be using it simply as ‘guidance’ only (possibly rather questionable guidance for some).

Good luck to all X

[Pipsqueak77]

Hi EvieJo

I think it depends a lot on which part of the country that you live. Whether higher or lower infection rates...

I am certainly not stressing too much - just waiting for guidance - let’s see if any letters arrive!?

Take care😊👍 and stay safe

[JustR]

I’ve just received mine via email this evening😕

[AP92 in reply to JustR]

I haven’t got one, but I’m not sure if I’m on the GP/Gov register to shield as my last letter came directly from my consultant. Will have to call tomorrow and clarify as I’m severe awaiting biological therapy and on long term pred now 😞

[JustR in reply to AP92]

Sounds similar to my situation..asthma became severe in the last 18months..stuck on long term daily pred and waiting to be considered for a different biologic as Xolair didn’t work..

Definitely get in touch with your consultant to double check.

[AP92 in reply to JustR]

Sounds very similar but mine was only classed as severe mid pandemic so I’m waiting for my first biological funding to be approved. It’s stressing me as I’m a nurse and due to work clinically on Friday and HR have said nothing recently about my risk assessment. Urg hopefully can sleep tonight and sort first thing!

Xx

[JustR in reply to AP92]

Fingers crossed your biologics are approved soon🤞

That must be hard knowing the risk could be greater if working in a clinic environment. Did you shield through any of the first shielding period?

I hope your able to contact your HR to conduct a risk assessment ASAP!

Take care and stay safe.x

[AP92 in reply to JustR]

Yep had 5 months off (was decided by work early last time that I was to go off no questions) good thing I did as I had 5 hospital admissions in that time! But my consultant only sent me a shielding letter mid May so probably not on gov database.

Yeh will sort ASAP thanks for the kind words ♥️

[JustR in reply to AP92]

That’s good to hear your work we’re supportive. I’m sure you will get everything sorted. Try not to get stressed as I know when I feel stressed my asthma starts to flare up..take care x

[redstar9 in reply to AP92]

I'm the same. My letter came from hospital consultant. My husband got his shielding letter via email last night but I haven't received anything yet.

Update

My sheilding letter came in the post today. I have been working this morning due to letter not arriving but having a bad asthma flare which has been coming on over the last few days. Had an attack last night which I managed at home and started on emergency steroids this morning. Hoping that my new employer will furlough me. If not I can't afford to stay at home. Feeling stressed and trying to stay out of A&E.

[ozboz123 in reply to redstar9]

Hi and hope you are safe and well,

Im having a problem with HR saying they need a letter otherwise I have to continue work. I work in care and unable to social distance and in close contact with clients I feel very anxious as yet have had no letter or email and I am due to work this weekend

I wondered if you had any advice

[redstar9 in reply to ozboz123]

I also work in care and can't social distance. I am also required to work unless I have a letter. My husband had an email but I haven't had anything yet. Last time I had a letter from the hospital from resp dept. I may email them tomorrow.

[ozboz123 in reply to redstar9]

Thank you for your reply, 😊 its all very confusing, I think I will be working this weekend as I don't think without letter I can do very much but going to ring HR tomorrow and I hope you are well and get your letter through 🙂

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to JustR]

Hi

Yes.... eaten my words.. just got e-mail too.

Am not happy at all..🙁🙁🙁

Take care all

[JustR in reply to Pipsqueak77]

Hopefully it’s only 4weeks🤞

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to JustR]

Hi

Pleaseeee.....🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[LisaLuv3000 in reply to JustR]

Same. I was worried as I've moved house and it has taken a month for my new GP practice to register me. Sorted now though. I'm a secondary school teacher and I'm glad to say that my Headteacher has been really supportive throughout, putting measures in to try to reduce the risk, and then yesterday making the decision for me that I should work from home. I love teaching and it has been lovely to be back in class these last 8 weeks, but it has also be stressful due to the risk, and I've been lucky to have extra support. I was relieved that there was no conversation about my staying in work but I also just feel really sad about it all at the moment. I've got a plan so will work to that and teach what I can remotely. Telling my classes yesterday was hard, but they know my situation and they were lovely about it - I ended up crying a fair bit! Not ideal, but they were really sweet. It will be OK. Just hope things are better in 4 weeks. Sorry, that ended up being a much longer response than I anticipated. 😊

[JustR in reply to LisaLuv3000]

That’s really great to hear your being supported by your work through this.

I can only imagine it’s been a nervous time at work for you. Being amongst children who appear to be more Asymptomatic with the virus is a really hard one to get your head around.

My children came into close contact with a teacher who tested positive and the whole class had to isolate. 5days later my husband developed symptoms and then went onto test positive. At the time me and the children tested we came back negative.

We can’t think of anyone else we could have had contact with as we have been home shielding and then min contact..

We can only assume it’s come home from school😬

I’m sure your class children will miss you loads but your safety comes first. Take care.

[Clairebear35]

I had mine emailed to me last night so worth checking your emails just in case

[mylungshateme]

Yep recieved my email last night check your emails... we will get through it 🧘‍♀️❤🥂

[Hidden]

If you read official shielding guidance it seems softer than before... Or maybe I never read the actual gov site before?

ie do things as safely as you can etc.... very much down to what you feel is safe / ok and as you say need to balance your own day to day wellbeing. Such difficult choices...

gov.uk/government/publicati...

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

Yes to me it doesn't really sound much different to the rules for other people - apart from keeping contact with others to a minimum and of course the not going to work thing if you can work from home, which is probably the biggest thing.

[Laurenhulk90]

From the government website, and guidelines I should receive an email. However I am only newly diagnosed (6 weeks) so it’s likely I won’t receive anything

No email :/

[twinkly29 in reply to Laurenhulk90]

I'd contact your GP - they might not be able to say yet, given the wealth of time from the official "yes" to lockdown a few hours before it starts 🤦😂, (but if concerned could presumably sign you off in the meantime?) but might be able to add people like they did last time - other identified categories need adding anyway, eg adults with down's syndrome.. The letters coming out at the moment are to people who were previously identified so the system won't automatically know about others, especially as GPs had to add less obvious people anyway last time (ie those the NHS systems didn't immediately flag up).

[Itswonderful]

I had an email last night telling me what to do.

[Lindsay717]

I am too agree 100% you have to think of your overall health. I live alone with a 15year old so my mental health would suffer really badly if I did it again. I also need the normality of work and school to lower stress levels. All immediate threats and trigger for my asthma. I am working with my employer to minimise risk and other than the odd walk will be the only reason I leave my house. We have to do what is best for individualy so people will feel safer at home. Its your choice do what's best for you everyone and stay safe.