Shielding letters: Hi everyone Got my... - Asthma Community ...

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Shielding letters

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador
32 Replies

Hi everyone

Got my shielding extension letter today, and thought those still waiting or confused after the briefing might want to read it as it clearly states the new rules and why things are changing (hopefully it’ll come out clear enough to read 😅). The first page explains the current rules and the last talks a little about returning to work and accessing support etc. Hope it helps to clear some stuff up for anyone who is confused.

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EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91
Community Ambassador
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32 Replies
Shorkiegirls profile image
Shorkiegirls

Me too. 👍🏼

twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29

I was reassured that it's the same as what they said yesterday - consistency! And that they've actually though about it before giving bits of advice.

Troilus profile image
Troilus

Thank you Emma.

Yes, me too. I've got quite a collection now. LOL

1974lovejoy profile image
1974lovejoy

Yep got mine too and a call from practise nurse - my first since this started!!!! It’s clear with regard to what we do and don’t do .. but I can’t find any advice for health care workers returning to work in an environment which I’d question is Covid safe!! But I’m hoping my employer will guide me !! I know they’ll need to get us back but frontline is impossible to keep Covid safe 😂!!! So I guess I’ll watch this space to see what they plan ..

I am looking forward to the slow release albeit I’m very nervous as this virus is still very much out there but each day is new day in Covid land !!!! 😂😘

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to 1974lovejoy

Whoop for your phone call! 😂

I get the concerns... I’m an osteopath and self employed... it’s a high risk job, very close contact etc with patients, so my COVID protect will be gloves, gowns and a face shield, whilst patient wears a mask (I am unable to wear masks). For me it’ll just be a ‘I need money’ decision, as no furlough or realsupport (still haven’t managed to get a Boris box either 😒😅)

I’m just going to hope at well be released when it’s at the pre-lockdown level of COVID so should be ok 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Hope they get a plan in place for your work!

1974lovejoy profile image
1974lovejoy in reply to EmmaF91

I haven’t had a Boris box or priority delivery slots it’s been all out for themselves here 😂😂.. I was worried when I got the call this morning !!!

I’m lucky I’m on full pay currently but I’m working full time from home on Covid related stuff for the service and it’s been good.. kept me very busy and my hrs are longer than my usual 12 hr shifts some days 😂.. but I’m not complaining as I’m very lucky !! Just wandering how emergency services are going to say it’s a Covid safe working environment 🙄🧐😅😅

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to 1974lovejoy

Did you apply for them? I applied, got the priority, told I’d get boxes and nope 😅😂

That’s something then. But yes... how to make frontline emergency services COVID safe... unless they keep you doing what you’re doing until they deem it more acceptable 🤷‍♀️😅😂

1974lovejoy profile image
1974lovejoy in reply to EmmaF91

That’s what I’m hoping ...

I updated my registration with the government a number of times and still nothing .. I do think it was locality related .. a colleague was a late shielder and got one within days ... 😂.. I have survived though and there are other people needing it more than me .... but initially it would have taken some pressure of whilst fighting for food shopping 😅💪

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to 1974lovejoy

I got a Boris box sent to me... just to 2 county’s over (parents old address... I haven’t lived there since Dec 2018 🤷‍♀️😂). National shielding line called me 2.5 weeks ago, told me I should get a box within the week. Still nothing. Local councillor just told me I probs won’t be even tho I should do 🤷‍♀️. But luckily I’ve got the priority access and enough savings to keep buying food for the moment (is why I wanted the box...). If you can’t get the priority it’s worth ringing the relevant supermarket and asking... most are happy to add!

Yup. My colleague went back this week... 3 days, 28 patients booked, over 50 left on the waiting list 😂

1974lovejoy profile image
1974lovejoy in reply to EmmaF91

😂

Giggles-Wig profile image
Giggles-Wig in reply to 1974lovejoy

Hi, here is the link to register for the food boxes, u need to register before the 17th of July so that u get ur weekly food boxes and u will also get ur supermarket priority slot if u register before the 17th of July.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

Here is the link for the food parcels

Giggles-Wig profile image
Giggles-Wig in reply to 1974lovejoy

Hi, here is the link to register for the food boxes, u need to register before the 17th of July so that u get ur weekly food boxes and u will also get ur supermarket priority slot if u register before the 17th of July.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

Here is the link for the food parcels

Giggles-Wig profile image
Giggles-Wig in reply to EmmaF91

Hi, here is the link to register for the food boxes, u need to register before the 17th of July so that u get ur weekly food boxes and u will also get ur supermarket priority slot if u register before the 17th of July.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

Here is the link for the food parcels

1974lovejoy profile image
1974lovejoy in reply to EmmaF91

Oh and good luck going back .. I can imagine you’ll have lots of clients needing you after all the home exercise on line classes available 😅😂

Giggles-Wig profile image
Giggles-Wig in reply to EmmaF91

Hi, here is the link to register for the food boxes, u need to register before the 17th of July so that u get ur weekly food boxes and u will also get ur supermarket priority slot if u register before the 17th of July.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

Here is the link for the food parcels

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

I’m not shielding, I just don’t go through anywhere crowded or meet people. My husband goes to the supermarket - not a chance of getting a delivery slot.

I’m really hoping that supermarkets will keep some of their ‘sheltered ‘ quiet shopping sessions for people like us.

Meliko profile image
Meliko

Hurray! Thank you, I've had to move back in with my parents so the post always takes a little longer. . . The thing I'd really like to know is at what point we're allowed to share bathrooms again, the rest of the family are getting a bit shirty about not being able to have a bath! (don't worry, they can have showers)

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to Meliko

6th July officially for them being able to have a bath! 😂

tigga61 profile image
tigga61

I got my letter yesterday too, first letter I didn't get till 3 weeks after everyone else, ive never had any help with food or supermarket deliveries so having to be careful and shop local. getting through it tho, work in August will see how things go . keep safe x

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to tigga61

Did you register online as needing assistance using the Gov website? If so and you still don’t have priority slots, contact the supermarket of your choice, talk to them, and they’ll add you. If you’ve registered as needing assistance with food they’ll have access to the email you registered under. If it’s an different email (or you registered with one email, but online shop with another) explain that and they’ll get it sorted.

Hope that helps

Giggles-Wig profile image
Giggles-Wig in reply to tigga61

Hi, here is the link to register for the food boxes, u need to register before the 17th of July so that u get ur weekly food boxes and u will also get ur supermarket priority slot if u register before the 17th of July.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

Here is the link for the food parcels

HRV123 profile image
HRV123

Thanks for that, it’s helpful to see the letter (as Royal Mail so t seems to deliver more than once a week to us at the moment). I’m concerned about the ‘COVID safe’ workplace, I work in a specialist school where social distancing is impossible, and many of the children get bodily fluids on staff through the day. The guidance for schools basically says we ll limited the group size (but not in September) and we should try and keep our distance 🤷🏻‍♀️ Is this COVID safe though?

Nanny4sprogletd profile image
Nanny4sprogletd

Hi I have been lucky with both gp practice and government help. I received a box from the local council and a Boris box for a few weeks until I had priority delivery. I

Blue-Breeze profile image
Blue-Breeze

Both myself and husband got ours yesterday. Even though husband was added by GP in error and had been removed by GP and texts stopped? Please it arrived early after the briefing.

TwickChick profile image
TwickChick

Thank you for that :) I got the text but my doctors still have my letters 🙄

MistyDay59 profile image
MistyDay59

It's not a shielding extension letter. It's advising that from 6th July people in shielding can see upto 6 people outside observing social distancing and from 1st August shielding will be paused. That those shielding will be kept on the shielded list and may be advised to shield again later in the year if there is a 2nd wave.

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to MistyDay59

This is all correct. But for those of us who were told 12 weeks initially (and never officially told at all to extend til even the end of June) its still an extension letter, as it can be used as proof of shielding for work/benefits purposes until 1st August.

I technically should have stopped shielding on the 15th per my letter, then we were unsure if the 30th June would be the complete end of shielding (the end date the government gave) or whether it would be extended (in England and NI... Wales and Scotland have their own letters and extension dates), and as the press release was less than 24hrs before my letter arrived for many this letter may have been the first they heard that they couldn’t leave on the 30th (something a lot of people only knew about from the news as it was) and that restrictions and support would be in place until 31st July 😅

EvieJo profile image
EvieJo

I wonder if the wording was different on some people’s initial letters. I’ve read some say ‘up to 12 weeks’, mine said ‘at least 12 weeks’. Which doesn’t suggest it automatically ends at the 12 week mark (hence it ‘shouldn’t’ be needed as proof for employers - although I understand some may be difficult about it) Given that everyone seemed to get letters at different stages, the 12 week thing becomes confusing. At least everyone in this group has now been brought up to the same level/end date and it’s a bit clearer where we all stand. For now at least!

EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador in reply to EvieJo

It depends when they were sent out. Those in the initial wave (the first week or so ) I think were at least 12 weeks (just dug out my letter 😂), the ones that came out slightly later in the 2nd wave (week 3+) were up to 12 weeks, then the ones even later in the 3rd wave (week 8+) I think stated until the 30th June 🤷‍♀️ (and I totally picked up on the nuance on my original letter there! 😅😂😂)

But yes the latest letter brings everyone in England/NI into alignment, with the same end date, and with the clear changes to what shielders can do! (It’s why I shared it for anyone who hadn’t had the letter yet, or who had decided to shield themselves.

MistyDay59 profile image
MistyDay59 in reply to EvieJo

Yes that's right. I didn't get my letter until 10th April. So the 12 week point would be different to those who got their letter on the 29th of March of just after.

EvieJo profile image
EvieJo

I’ve not had a letter following the recent update anyway

(but post has been shocking in my area) Useful to see the letter and It looks like the info is just what’s on the gov website, so Im not too worried about it - unless of course I’m asked for it! Fortunately I haven’t been asked for any further confirmation since sending in my original letter 😅

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