Frustrating

[Mollymaid]

Thought I’d share this with you...

My friends daughter who is at college was due to return Monday. She is exempt from wearing a face mask for medical reasons, the college said she had to provide an exemption letter from her GP. A phone call to the GP, useless! Apparently doctors will not sign exemption forms as they do not have the time.. the exemption card that is downloaded from the government website is available she was told and that is suffice. The college will not recognise these. Hence my daughters friend is not at college.

Is this a sign of things to come .. ratification from medical professionals- who are ultimately too busy 😩

Have a lovely day everyone x

[Spanielmadlady]

I have a sunflower lanyard and face covering exempt card from hidden disabilities. It is recognized nationwide by supermarkets, hospitals etc.ive worn it to the hospital and the drs without issue. Hope this helps x

[Mollymaid in reply to Spanielmadlady]

Thank you I’ll pass this info onto my friend .. be interesting to see what the college has to say about this ... I’ll let you know x

[Spanielmadlady in reply to Mollymaid]

I struggle with masks due to bronchiectasis. I always take both with me.i will wear a mask if I can i.e sitting down but wear my lanyard just in case i have to take it off. I'm sure there is a compromise here for both parties so no more education is lost. Xx

[WinterSwimmer]

There is another side to this. A friend of mine is a GP in an area that has suffered a high rate of Covid throughout the pandemic. She has spent her year treating babies and children as well as hundreds of adults, consoling grieving families and signing death certificates, in an environment that has left her physically and emotionally depleted and scared for her own health. I have heard her rail against people who insist on their exemption from mask wearing, even if this is not medically justifiable - and who download what she refers to as "fake" forms/lanyards from the web to justify this. Understandably, perhaps, given what she has seen in the course of the last 12 months, her view is that wearing a mask, even if it is unpleasant or makes it more difficult to breath, mitigates the risk of passing on Covid which is in everyones' interest.

Anyone can download an exemption card. Anyone can buy a lanyard, whether or not they genuinely have a disability (hidden or not) that makes it hard for them to breathe.

Just to be clear, I am not claiming that anyone on this forum is claiming exemption they are not entitled to. However some people undoubtedly are - and they will almost certainly be people who are covid deniers, who do not see why they should comply with mask wearing and who do not follow the rules about refraining from close contact with others. Consequently - 'fake' exemptions - whether with a certificate or lanyard or both, constitute a high level of risk of passing on Covid. Hence the reluctance of at least one GP to be associated with them.

[Spanielmadlady in reply to WinterSwimmer]

I totally get that.the people who abuse the system make it harder for those with genuine issues.i have lung issues and there are times I struggle in masks. I wear one if I can i.e sitting down in a waiting room but wear my lanyard just in case i have to take it off..... i will wear a visor. I do think there is a compromise that can be struck here that ensures those who genuinely struggle with masks arnt penalised xxx

[joanneM200]

Hi, I work in a FE college, (although I’m currently shielding). In my place, back sometime before Xmas, students that are exempt were asked to go and speak to the college nurses, and given a badge/card to state that they were exempt. Now, I know it’s not actually enforceable that the students wear a mask, but the ones that can but won’t get fed up very quickly when they are asked to produce evidence of why they are not wearing one.

I’d say challenge the college, it’s NOT mandatory, nor are the tests, ( although it should be) so they are probably guilty of discrimination.

Jo

[Mollymaid in reply to joanneM200]

Hi Thanks for reply and help with this I will pass your message to my friend - her and her daughter are extremely stressed about it. I did say when she told me that I thought it was discriminatory. All not very helpful for anxious folk.

Stay well x

[Hamptons]

Check the dice guidance for schools as I think is against gov guidance.

[Hamptons]

DFE guidance

[Mollymaid in reply to Hamptons]

Thank you I will x

[Hidden]

Hi Mollymaid, I work as a receptionist in a busy GP surgery and have had to deal with numerous enquiries with regards to exemption cards/letters and advise as per the advice given to your friend. I can honestly say that the pandemic and its consequences have undoubtedly increased the workload of all of those working within the NHS and signing or writing letters for mask exemption is simply not viable given the number of patients that would require them. If the college are insisting on evidence for the medical condition for exemption, your friend could ask their GP surgery for a printout of her condition/s - she may have to fill out a form to request this - which shouldnt incur a charge. We are all looking forward to some sort of normality and are working hard to ensure we are all protecting each other from this awful virus... I hope the college will come to their senses and accept any evidence your friend is able to supply. 👍

[Mollymaid in reply to Hidden]

Thank you .. value your advice and will pass on to my friend along with other suggestions from the replies I’ve received. 🤗