Having just watched the BBC’s Q&A before the daily update I can now say I feel worthless, expendable, disposable. Whatever word you want to use, I feel it.
It seems that the updated guidelines say that if you have received a shielding letter in the past then going forward you will not be expected to venture out to work, if however you are deemed ‘at risk’ then it looks like you are expected to go out. As we all know from reading the various posts on this site it has been hit and miss as to who received texts or a letter, we may have the same level of illness and on the same meds but there are instances where some have letters and some don’t. Despite my Rheumatology Department telling me I should have received a letter (but it wasn’t coming from them) and after contacting my GP, I’ve still received no letter.
I want to work from home but my boss says there is a shortage of available laptops so looks like I will be expected to travel the 10 miles to work on the train (with severe joint pain and a knee replacement I can’t see me walking or biking there and back). I just feel that I am being thrown to the dogs and struggling to see what the last 7 weeks have been about.
Sorry for the rant but I can’t see what’s changed from lockdown until now other than the fact that money seems more important than life.
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Froggie70
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I am sorry that you are in this position where you may be at higher risk to the virus but do not have a letter giving you authority to stay away from work. You are certainly not alone.
We are working on updating our guidance for people with lupus about employment.
Something that is very important to note is that all employers with 5 or more staff are required to perform a workplace risk assessment for COVID-19 and communicate it to all staff (I did this for our team today). This is an important document for all employers - assets.publishing.service.g...
If your role can be performed from home, then they should be addressing their current shortage of laptops, rather than putting you at risk.
If you feel that your employer is putting you at unreasonable risk then you could consider reporting them - hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns...
Thank you. The link to the full guidelines is really helpful and I will make sure I read up on this before my next catch up with my boss. I really appreciate your support and help.
Hello Happy, thank you. It really helps to know you guys are there and you get it. I’m in the union and I can imagine I won’t be the only one in this boat. I will keep you posted.
I get the feeling there are going to be a good few of us in the same boat. I’ve been with the company 32 years and I still feel like the junior some times.
Thanks again and please pass on my best to your friend.
I didn’t watch the questions and answers today( for one of the first times as I decided to do an online yoga class!) but after reading your post, I’m in the same boat as you. As I understand, an adequate risk assessment needs to be in place but obviously this is easier in some work places than others.
It really is quite a stressful place to be , ‘should I, shouldn’t I?’ I understand your frustration and dilemma completely.
I wish I could offer further advice but can’t at present, think I just wanted to say, you’re not alone, yep that’s me too.
Take care, thanks for posting. I’m off to watch it on catch up.
Hello. Like I said to Happy, thank you. It helps to know someone else gets it. If you’re watching on catch up it’s the actual BBC Q&A piece before the official press conference.
Yes, it's a difficult place. Isn't one of the new English "rules" (guidance? suggestions? whatevertheyare) that only key workers should use public transport? I have to say I think the new English govt rules are disastrously complex and confused. I'm glad Im in Wales, where - like Scotland and NI - we have clearer rules. Unfortunately, though, we will all be at more risk thanks to replacing "Stay At Home" with the meaningless "Stay Alert" slogan. x
My gp told me that because it's the hospital who prescribes my immunosupressant medication I slipped through the surgeries net when they wrote to people, presumably the rheumatology department should have, which was why I didn't get a letter. Fortunately I have a good relationship with her and she organised a letter for me. She told me that the criteria the government /NHS were using wasn't great and this meant a lot of people hadn't got letters.
I'm really sorry you're in this situation, I'd strongly suggest you contact your gp again. I contacted my surgery the week following the shielding letters supposedly going out to everyone because I'd not got one. I spoke to a different gp - mine wasn't available, she sent me a text stating that I met the criteria for shielding due to being immunosupressed. It wasn't for a few more weeks after I registered myself on the gov.uk vulnerable list that my gp then contacted me and organised the letter.
Hello, great minds think alike. Just waiting on my painkillers working then I’m getting up to phone the GP. Will let you know what they say. Thanks for your support. Stay safe.
Yes sadly that’s the problem, everyone is wanting a laptop to work from home (that said not everyone has a chronic illness but I understand people are scared and all want to work from home). Our office is right in the centre of town, once you come out the lift it’s very small passageways leading to an open plan office with cramped kitchen and toilets. Taking my ‘worried’ head off and putting my ‘sensible’ one on I’m struggling to see how my employers are going to manage the office set up, tbh I do feel sorry for them. One of my colleagues was in touch and said she had to complain as people were congregating round the photocopier chatting, no social distancing. No matter what plans are in place you still need people to follow the rules and there in lies the problem.
So managed to speak to a locum at the surgery. He said MTX wasn’t listed as a drug that would warrant a letter but that GPs were raising this as an issue with Public Health. Anyway he said I shouldn’t be going anywhere and if needs be the surgery would provide me with a letter. Can’t ask for more than that so ball is back in my boss’s court, if he can get me a laptop I’m ready to start. Thanks again for your support.
That is helpful Froggie. My hubby’s GP asked him on a phone appointment if I’d received a letter - weeks ago. He wasn’t impressed to hear I hadn’t and said I was to treat myself as high risk. He told hubby the letter wouldn’t come from the surgery but from the health board. Still have heard nothing by letter or text, but as I’m not working hopefully I shouldn’t really need it. I hope your boss sees sense and if not it sounds like your surgery will supply what you need. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. 🤞🤞🤞
Let us know how it goes Froggie. Thinking of you. Take care. 🤗x
I'm afraid the risk has not changed and I know what you mean about wondering the last seven weekswere for if you have to put yourself at risk now. It will actually be more dangerous as more people are out and about, many not bothering about distancing. I don't know about other employers' advice but I've read the one for schools and that has clear sections for the high risk (who should stay at home) and the more vulnerable, who should be given work to do where it is possible to socially distance. I agree with Paul that your employer should be purchasing more laptops. I hope this is soon resolved for you and you don't have to worry about it.
I am just so sorry about your predicament. The Governments vagueness, ineptitude and callous disregard does indeed put money before people. I think the advice from Paul and others is invaluable. I live in Wales thankfully and I no longer work but I have had no letter, no texts and feel completely neglected too. I really hope that your GP and your Union can give you the help you need to stay safe and well. Xx
I live in Scotland and I’m exactly in the same boat as you Cecily. No letter or text. 🤦♀️ I don’t understand why there’s such a variation in what Lupies are receiving or not receiving. 🤷♀️ It is ridiculous. Keep safe. 🤗
It is ridiculous. I am staying in for as long as it takes but I am very aware that not everyone has that luxury sadly. I feel so terribly sorry for English people who now have little choice if they are not wealthy or well supported by their doctors 😞You stay safe too xx
I totally agree with you. We are lucky we aren’t living in England. I live very near the Scottish/English border and people living one side but working on the other don’t know which set of rules to follow. 🤷♀️ Very confusing and upsetting for them. 🤦♀️ Take care. xx
Hello, that’s the beauty of this site, the support of everyone here gives you the strength to stand up for yourself. Laptop no laptop, letter or no letter, I’m not putting myself at risk. Thank you. X
It seems to me that this isn’t the governments fault but a combination of your GP and your boss.
You say your GP should have sent you a letter but didn’t. Phone them up and ask why not. Register on the nhs or gov sites on the link for people who think they should have had a letter but didn’t.
Your boss should surely realise that buying a laptop for your use does mean you are able to do some work. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Ask him if you can now have one. Perhaps others will be going back and you disinfect one of their laptops and use it.
The government does say don’t use public transport unless you absolutely have to and I would be using that part of the rules not to go in if I were you and in the high risk group. They also say that companies have to be set up so that workers will be safe when they are actually at work, so check your boss has done this.
I’m sorry you have been missed off the extremely vulnerable list and that your GP has let you down. No one is perfect, including doctors as we all know. I really feel that talking to them again or registering as I said above, or both preferably, would be the best thing for you as it would stop the problem arising again. Good luck and don’t go to work unless you feel safe to do so. X
Hello Jumper, called the GP today and he said Methotrexate wasn’t a drug that would put you in the list for the NHS letter but that he could do a private letter if I needed it. Boss said he would be in touch as soon as he had news on a laptop so will need to wait. Thanks for replying to me, appreciate your help.
I live in the states where we do not have a shielding or risk system. I work in a school system so only work from home when school is closed but will be going back to work when they reopen regardless of " at risk" status.
Here, and I am sure in the uk aswell, everyone now realizes that this virus poses a serious risk to all people regardless if in a certain age or disease group or not so they are focusing on how to best mitigate risk for all. My underlying health status does at least allow me the option to apply for disability if I chose to not return where as my coworker's do not have that luxury.
I, however, am going to try my best to learn how to live with this threat for it is not going away any time soon so my focus now is preparing for a return to work by stocking up on masks, sanitizer, breaking my habit of touching eyes, opening doors with my sleeve, etc. I am also trying to stay under a 25 bmi with daily workouts, meditating to reduce anxiety, eating lots of antioxidants, vitamin c foods and getting vitamin d and keeping my sleep consistent for these are proven ways to modulate your immune system.
I hope you can arrange to work from home but if you can not get that approval there maybe other things to explore like disability or doing as I have, preparing yourself mentally, physically and with safety products.
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High risk letter
Feel so alone :-/
Feel so alone. 
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