What is going to happen with the volu... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

55,055 members65,843 posts

What is going to happen with the volunteers.

2greys profile image
39 Replies

So Bojo said everyone should go to work tomorrow, fair enough. So what is going to happen to the volunteers if they return to work? I know I am not alone with this, I now rely on volunteers to deliver my prescriptions to me. There is no way I can go to get them myself 20/25 steps is my limit at the moment, should I actually make it down 3 flights of stairs there is no way I could climb back up them, let alone walk the half mile both ways to the pharmacy. Are we now faced with an additional problem? Johnson has said nothing about this, as usual, it has not been thought through properly.

Written by
2greys profile image
2greys
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
39 Replies
sassy59 profile image
sassy59

Not thought out properly at all. X

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to sassy59

It is the same with the volunteers that are doing peoples shopping for them. I worry for those shielding.

Aingeful profile image
Aingeful

He'd combed his hair nicely though!!😂

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Aingeful

No he didn't, that was his girlfriend who did that with "Your not going on TV looking like that!"

Aingeful profile image
Aingeful in reply to 2greys

😂😂😂

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

It definitely hasn't been thought out out properly at all, have a good night and take care of yourself and your wife😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

Tia4209 profile image
Tia4209

Not sure if it would work for you but I get all my Prescriptions delivered through Pharmacy2U it has worked out well for me. I changed over to then at the beginning of lockdown.

Maybe not all the volunteers will return to work as not all trades and businesses will be reopening yet and maybe some of them are not part of the workforce anyway. Hope it all works out and you can get your meds ok.

Oshgosh profile image
Oshgosh

Does your pharmacy do home delivery?

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Oshgosh

No more delivery slots. Just like the supermarkets.

R1100S1 profile image
R1100S1 in reply to 2greys

Hi

I had a supportive call from my council (Kirklees) they said if any trouble getting prescription delivered they would provide a contact who could sort it, even to extent of change of chemists.

In the end there were far more volunteers than were required. Many had nothing to do, and many of them are students or people who don’t work anyway. Also most pharmacies will deliver to your home. Even Lloyds are doing this, as a free service to the shielded.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to

Not my pharmacy, all their delivery slots are full. The only option is volunteer delivery. Your words bring no comfort to me at all, you do not know where I live, which is a large lawless council estate where the police will not enter on their own, for fear of their own safety. There even has to be vigilante patrols. Lockdown, stay at home? you must be having a laugh. An excess of volunteers, who are you trying to kid? This is the reallity of where I live:

thesun.co.uk/news/9787286/p...

in reply to 2greys

You must live on a particularly lawless estate, if even the police won’t enter alone. I’m surprised volunteers were prepared to venture there. The only solution might be an online pharmacy. People have to return to work, otherwise they’ll have no jobs to go back to.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to

Online it was hard enough to get a repeat prescription organised with the local pharmacy, a right palaver that turned out to be. Then there is the question of them getting my prescription wrong, which occasionally happens with the local one.

Sops profile image
Sops in reply to

I don't have access to a pharmacy that delivers, and the only volunteers we have are the local running and cycling clubs to whom i am very grateful,.

I think we have to accept there are many localised differences,

Sops

in reply to Sops

No neighbours or friends who can help you? What about an online pharmacy?

Sops profile image
Sops in reply to

i am a widow, in the country, not everyone has family or neighbours.

And i am isolated. I ama sure my excellent GP will help with advice,

Sops

in reply to Sops

You’re right, I consider myself very lucky to have plenty of help if required, tho I much prefer to be independent. A good gp is worth their weight in gold imo, so glad you have one. Me too.

Sops profile image
Sops in reply to

sure, thank you Hanne, i too am of an independent nature having lived alone for many years, but i have good friends with whom i am in contact with different methods daily, facetime, email, texting, and i am never lonely, and always busy.

I am very confident in the medical care I receive and am lucky in the lovely people who support me. I am glad you feel supported too..thank you for your concern

Sopsx

Badbessie profile image
Badbessie

The devil is in the detail which is unknown. Personally I think there are few businesses that will open in the service sector.

Daisy55 profile image
Daisy55

You will still have your prescription delivered , if you need reassurance there are special council groups set up now you can contact with any concerns at all . If you have a shielding letter , nothing said has changed . pharmacies also do home delivery , so you won’t need to leave home .

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Daisy55

That may be true, but only to an extent. My pharmacy cannot deliver, all their delivery slots are full, they cannot do any more.

Daisy55 profile image
Daisy55 in reply to 2greys

Then probably getting in contact with the new council group set up in your area would be the best bet for reassurance ,and as you live in a no go area , they will know how to manage that for you .

Sops profile image
Sops in reply to Daisy55

There is no chance of a pharmacy delivery in my area.

I was forced t queue for 2 hours the week before lockdown as I live alone, and when the pharmasist saw my prescription details if he said you should not be doing this, go home now.

Under the shielding regulations i have had volunteers delivering meds but reslly worried now,

There was no mention of us in the PMs speech.

sops

Daisy55 profile image
Daisy55 in reply to Sops

Everything with shielding stays exactly the same . You need to contact your local council , as per the shielding letter to get your prescriptions to you , they have specially set up hubs now for this purpose which involve the army too , to ensure you have all you need . Any reassurance you need contact the council , don’t sit worrying , the help is there .

Sops profile image
Sops

what a really good point. I am not allowed to go outside and have calls from GP or shielding line every day to make sure i am at home.

Am going to ring the Shielding main line in Sheffield and ask the question

sops.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Sops

Wow, I have not heard a peep from Southampton City Council at all, but that does not surprise me one bit.

Sops profile image
Sops in reply to 2greys

I live in a rural area so I expect not so much pressure on local authority, but have to admit they have impressed me, love your area, spend a lot of time there when times are better.

Take care Sopsx

Daisy55 profile image
Daisy55 in reply to 2greys

You need to contact the council yourself with all your concerns , they will help you .

Valsha profile image
Valsha

As I understand it, it is the council which is looking after the shielded in their area. They should be the first point of contact if you have a problem with food or medicines deliveries. However, I am sure some are better than others. Ours has surprised us.

Good luck.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Valsha

Phone my council over anything and you just get passed from pillar to post with "not this department's responsibility" until you end up back where you started! They are not even taking complaints anymore. I do not relish hours on the phone with extreme breathlessness like I have at the moment.

Daisy55 profile image
Daisy55 in reply to 2greys

Do try to phone , I do understand breathlessness as my husband is palliative , but if he needs to talk he uses an inhaler first or his nebuliser . It is important you let people know your concerns .

SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt

Yes this is a very worrying question you quite rightly ask 2greys and I've heard nothing on all news channels so once again, could Bojo have made a rather hasty decision without giving guidance to those who signed up to give help but could also have jobs they hope to return to? Worrying times indeed. How is Sharon doing, recovery wise? Not to leave you out but how's your recovery programme coming along? Best wishes. 🐿🌈💕

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to SquirrelsHolt

All good with Sharon at the moment it, it did not hit her quite as hard as myself, I am still way down on recovery, although I am improving very slowly. I cannot complain as I am still alive and consider myself extremely lucky as others with better health have succumbed to this virus.

SquirrelsHolt profile image
SquirrelsHolt in reply to 2greys

Yes, good news regarding Sharon and like you say, sometimes we just have to be grateful we are still breathing. Even more so with this vile COVID19 disease that targets our lungs, the very things we do our best to protect. Each day is another day of recovery so keep at it and you are a very strong man. You'll get back to where you were health wise, so try to chill and relax! 🐿🌈💕

Response profile image
Response

Apparently according to Dominc Raab it's Wednesday! - God help us if they can't even get that right between them! I think the pharmacists will sort your delivery out so no need to worry yet.

lKeith profile image
lKeith

2Greys

Hi,

A lot was not laid out t in the speech, yesterday I think they are playing by the seat of thei pants and what comes into their heads at the time.

We are trapped in the Canaries without the prospect of flight until jun e. Their is supposed to be another paper coming out this week with some more detail, lets see whats in that.

Your quite right if everyone goes back to work what will to us golden oldies do with their supply chains. Another stab i the dark.

IKeith

Oshgosh profile image
Oshgosh

My pharmacy and GPS work as an excellent team.

GPS has a Pharmacist,who sorts loads of stuff out. He has own appointments.

proffishopper profile image
proffishopper

Hi 2greys

Sorry to here that you are having a added worry about medication deliveries. I would put my intelligent head away for the time being, ring the Doctors surgery tell them you are low on medications and no one is available to collect them. I know it is not in your make up to act stupid but needs must. At the begging of this lock down I had an incident of this nature with the local {4 miles} away pharmacy, I cannot remember ever before acting so stupid,rude and persistent. I also rang the parish council, and any where else including the Doctors repeatedly. I am sure that it all paid off, I have the meds delivered regularly now and without agro. I hope that you have the same outcome and you are able to concentrate on getting yourselves stronger.

Best wishes

proffishopper

You may also like...

Getting closer to what's happening

I've given my doctor such a headache that she has now referred me to see a respiratory team at the...

Emphysema diagnosis- what happens now?

nothing from my GP surgery. Should I? What if anything should they be doing now? I feel rather...

Has this happened to anyone else?

Way back in 2004 I was diagnosed with NSIP/UIP. I asked the Brompton to have another look at my CT...

Weird thing ever happened to me

Stories from a Hospital Volunteer (In reply to Garshe.)