Why

Why have we been locked away for 12 weeks then told it's safe to go out. This is ridiculous

It's now my dr said up to me if I go back to work

This has been the worse 12 weeks of my life bar my diagnosis

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi Emily I think it's rediculus the way we are getting conflicting advice, we don't know which one to take. Until I know it's safe I'm staying put but you need to know exactly what to do as you have work. Hope you are ok and get the right advice have a good day and take care 😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

[Hidden in reply to Damon1864]

Just spoke to gp again who said I shouldn't be going to work I could scream

[sassy59]

I don’t think anyone really know Emily. You have to weigh up the pros and cons and maybe have a chat with work. Can you wear a mask or a visor? I hope, together with work, you can sort something out.

You need to stay safe. Wishing you well. Xxxxx

[Hidden]

Easing some of the lockdown measures, does not mean going back to normal with shoulder to shoulder, etc, employers need to following government guidelines same as people of public are advised to do, safe distancing etc. its not conflicting advice, its advice in certain circumstances.

observing this advice is still current: gov.uk/coronavirus

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Its conflicting to me how can I go back to work after being told I cant work. So yes it is conflicting even my dr is confused. I work kn a nursing how so cannot maintain social distancing. But guess it's ok now

And mask are not going to help sorry

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I don't understand why it is confusing if your doctor says you should not go back to work then all that is required should your employer require it is a sick note to say so. Simples, not confusing.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Ask my dr why he is confused thank you. And i have to go back. I am not as dr said sick

But thank you. I am not the only one on here confused

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

oh dear not a good sign if your doctor is confused also.

Will you go back to work? Or will you stay off?

Let us know what you decide or is resolved.

[moogle in reply to Hidden]

A 'fit note' can also say what has to be in place for you to work

[knitter]

Website gp online .....say GPs are asking for clarity on shielding rules, as many patients are asking them for advice .

About time the government gave definite statements rather than vague promises .

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Thank you

[Hoobs]

The government want children back to school and people back to work at any cost. The only way they can do this is by dumbing down the virus daily death figures and safe social distancing so people feel ''safer''. It's the same virus now as it was two months ago so how is it now safe to be 1m apart instead of 2m ? It's all about money I'm afraid. Funny how we have gone from level 4 to level 3 just in time for the pubs etc to reopen. I bet that we move from level 3 to level 2 in August, just in time for the new school year in September.

[cofdrop-UK]

Emily I feel for you - it must be so difficult when you are in work and shielding. Even if Gov comes out with easing, it will still be a scary situation for you. As for the GP saying ‘you’re not sick’ surely that is the point of shielding when you are extremely vulnerable, (to keep you NOT sick). I hope this can be resolved in a positive way for you.

Love cx

[Hidden]

So do I as I have days before I have ti go back

[Hidden]

Sounds like government saying back to work 1st of August feel a bit better

[CDPO16 in reply to Hidden]

Twinkly on the Asthma forum has posted comprehensive details on the latest update. Probably worth you reading through it to perhaps ease your concerns further. I hope that it does.

[Tetrazzini]

I am truly grateful to have been able to survive the last 12 weeks when so many poor souls did not.

The chances of seeing it through will, hopefully, continue to ger better as time goes on.

[Meg52]

I was told by the nurse who came to check my oxygen yesterday that there was going to be an announcement and they expected shielding to be extended. So to say I was surprised when I heard the update on people who have been shielding is an understatement!

I think there will be quite a few people in the medical world not very happy with the announcement.

Emily, can you speak to your consultant or one of the other doctors at the hospital? and get their advice.

Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about work and as the virus situation does not seem to have improved from when shielding first started, I certainly won’t be letting Boris Johnson or Matt Hancock decide when I am well enough to start mixing again.

The ‘bubbles’ frighten me, who have the other people in the bubble been mixing with?

Good luck😊

[Superzob]

I sympathise. Because modern politics is all about obfuscation and lack of responsibility, the Government seems to have been completely unable to “tell it as it is”; also, in its defence, I think it has been pressurised by the public to be more precise than the situation actually allows.

Neither science nor politics can predict the best course of action in an individual case, nor can it guarantee anyone’s absolute safety. Consequently, shielding advice was purely that, though a lot of guidance (eg 2m social distancing) was rather confusingly referred to as *rules*. They were really nothing of the sort because they were never enforceable, but shielding was an opportunity for the extremely vulnerable to be given further protection against COVID-19 whilst, at the same time, being offered assistance on food and medical supplies, and not being expected to work. Despite misleading statements by the PM, nobody has been imprisoned in their own house!

The question then arises: what happens after *official* shielding ceases. This is where I take issue with GPs who say they are *confused*. One of the reasons for the initial delay in sending out shielding letters was that GPs were asked which patients they felt should be included, in addition to those who fitted the categories selected from central records. I would be very worried if a GP were *confused* about a medical condition and needed guidance from government about whether a patient should return to work. Of course, the GP might not be aware of the patient’s workplace situation, but s/he should be able to discuss this with the patient and make a decision based on medical evidence.

I think we are danger of expecting (almost wanting) our lives to be run by politicians and scientists when, in reality, they can only give advice and leave it to us to make decisions based on that advice and knowledge of our own particular circumstances (which they can’t possibly know). This is something we do throughout our lives, but in circumstances which are more familiar; COVID-19 has added a layer of uncertainty to all this but, at the end of the day, it is still up to us all to try to make the best decision we can in the light of our personal circumstances, and the information and guidance available.