Hi everyone,
As promised, we are carefully monitoring the situation as it develops and working with expert lupus clinicians to keep out information and guidance updated regularly.
We have just published updates to our article which you can read at lupusuk.org.uk/coronavirus
If you have any questions which have not yet been answered, please let us know in the comments below and we will do our best to be of assistance.
Thanks Paul. I'm actually in hospital at the moment in a ward with 2 suspected cases and the staff have openly admitted that theyre getting no guidance from managers. One staff member said its "chaos".
The NHS are going to be under a lot of pressure during this unprecedented epidemic. I hope that they are getting good guidance from management soon.
I’m currently visiting Dad in Wrexham Hospital. The staff are impressive and prepared. Best wishes Kevin
Our thanks to Dr Wincup, Paul and the Romford team.
Thanks for this.
Thanks Paul and LUK! 
Boris' directive yesterday was:
People with symptoms are no longer required to call NHS 111, as the system is under strain, but are instead urged to look for information on the NHS website and 111 online.
(from the BBC website)..
...then someone (perhaps the Chief Medical Officer) mumbled something about only seeking health care if you feel really bad......?? (sorry, I'm in an ear flare atm, didn't catch it all )
Public England gave this useful tip
◾Those with confirmed or suspected cases should use a separate bathroom
(yes, we all live in mansions :-/)
For a government decision based science, the word 'seems' popped out a lot xxx
Hi eekt ,
I would still advise people with underlying health conditions to use the NHS 111 system because unlike the healthy population, they may need to make additional changes (such as temporarily stopping some medications) to help them fight the virus more effectively.
No-one has all the answers for this so all the guidance is a judgement based on the best evidence available at this time.
Everyone's ignoring Boris' advice: the media (including the BBC), the NHS etc all still have *contact 111* on their websites... xxx
Thank you Paul for the updated information. No matter where we are, there we are, in this world together. All of us. Plans in place to the best of Governments abilities, set there for the greater good, of us all. The countries, the world and everyone is trying their best. What we can do is this,Keep communicating, letting everyone here in this great "Germ Free" zone know we care for one another, and we are all listening. my blessings going out to you all... thestormy sunshine
I’m am really struggling here. When I had my flu jab I was told I was in group 9. My consultant has advised that there’s no question that Lupus falls into the category of an at risk condition for COVID vaccine (as you said in reply to original my post). This isn’t dependent on treatment (treatment only decides whether you are shielding group 4 or in group 6). Anyone with Lupus is either group 4 or group 6. She wrote to my GP who agrees but she’s told me the only flexibility they have on their system is to move people to the shielding group (which I’m not- Presumably this was allowed after the errors on shielding in March). She says wants to help me, but it seems GPs can’t correct any group 6 errors on the system. Paul do you have any idea where I can go with this? I won’t be the only person who’s been accidentally assigned the wrong group by the automated system & most people won’t know if they’ve been put in the wrong yet. Surely the government allowed GPs to override the automated system using clinical judgment? Is my GP right?
Hi panther50 ,
As you and your consultant have confirmed, people with a diagnosis of lupus should be part of priority group 6 (unless 'clinically extremely vulnerable' or age puts them in a higher group).
I've heard from a few people concerned that they have been miscategorised, but this is the first I have heard that GPs cannot correct it. I will raise this with my colleagues in RAIRDA now and see whether they have heard anything about this and whether there is any advice.
