Covid-19 Shielding Letters

[Trueblue8]

Thought I'd just share this with you all - my surgery has just posted on Facebook that it's going to take 3-4 weeks to get the letters out to the patients classed as extremely vulnerable!

[Pippa63]

Thankyou for sharing. Seems a long time to get a letter !

[Trueblue8 in reply to Pippa63]

Yes it does but I guess these are unprecedented times! It sounds as though everyone on here is being sensible, which is the main thing.

Ian

[friendofpiglet]

Astonishing isn't it?

I am sure we are all taking the precautions we know to be appropriate to protect ourselves but you have to wonder whether the suggested 12 weeks of shielding applies from the date of receipt of the letter or from the beginning of lockdown.

I can't help thinking some people won't get a letter until the crisis is in recession. Do we then become hermits for 12 weeks while all around us are back to a semblance of normality?

Andy

[Trueblue8 in reply to friendofpiglet]

Thanks for your reply, I doubt many of us will get letters anyway as I don't think GPs have much of a clue about MPNs!

[friendofpiglet in reply to Trueblue8]

Suits me. The very thought of getting one fills me with more trepidation than anything else about this whole situation!

[Eadaoin in reply to friendofpiglet]

There are no advantages in getting the official letter if we are already shielding, not unless we need help with shopping or collecting meds and have no-one to help. We know that MPNs require the highest level of self isolating and the rest is common sense. A piece of paper telling us that we are at risk of becoming very seriously ill if we get Covid-19 won’t be much use if we become ill. It is much more important to have our own written information, detailing all our health conditions, to hand to the paramedics in an emergency.

[friendofpiglet in reply to Eadaoin]

I quite agree.

[Tico in reply to friendofpiglet]

Very good point Andy.tina🤗

[friendofpiglet in reply to Tico]

Yes, well it is all such an unjoined up flapdoodle isn't it?

I don't want to be categorised as 'extremely' anything, and I certainly don't want to be 'told' how to protect myself - 'advised' is fine and I'm happy to take such advice.

Being 'told' to chain oneself to the radiator for 12 weeks is tantamount to unlawful detention.

[hybiscus]

Sorry my ignorance but can anyone clarify...why do we need this letter? I see here the opinions are divided but in practical ways what’s this letter for? To get priority for deliveries?

This is a genuine question.. as I don’t know..thanks 🙏

[poly2 in reply to hybiscus]

Hi. Not sure of your work status but for some of us who are key workers won't get paid full pay without the letter to confirm we are high risk and vulnerable to covid 19. And to confirm why we need to be in the shielding group for 12 weeks.

[Eadaoin in reply to poly2]

Important for those still able to work of course.

[Tico in reply to hybiscus]

I think its for a variety of reasons, ie, people who are employed but are forbidden to work at the moment unless a key worker so they get paid and to help people get priority for online deliveries when it was difficult to get a slot and also to inform the Government if you needed extra support during this. I've had two letters but I have everthing delivered to me via my family & friends, before the letter I was helping them. Warm wishes and stay safe.tina.x 🤗

[Trocken in reply to hybiscus]

As a frontline member of NHS staff I needed the letter, I was expected to be in work by senior managers despite the fact we were being told we should be shielding! Thankfully Occ Health knew there stuff. But we have had to provide proof of why we need to be working from home and not in the hospital. I’m sure those of us who work will also need the letter as evidence. For some it will also provide key information that they may not know and enables people to get priority slots for online shopping which is like gold dust and for others will ensure they get the the support they need. X

[kimbolew in reply to Trocken]

I am in exactly the same situation - a hospital dietitian with MF having to work from home, but needing confirmation for the longer term so that I can stay safely at home

[hybiscus]

Thanks so much 🙏

It makes more sense to me now.

[Anneian]

Hi

Would you class me who has PVR taking 1000g hydro daily and aspirin as vulnerable. My husband has CCL do you think he is at risk? Neither of us had had a letter. Thanks

[Trueblue8 in reply to Anneian]

Obviously that's a decision to be made in consultation with your respective healthcare teams; however, in line with the Government's guidelines you would fall into the extremely vulnerable category.

There is such inconsistency among the medical experts, which is evident when you read all the posts on here about how we might be affected by Covid-19, my philosophy is why would anyone take risks when so little is known about the disease.

For that reason, I am shielding in line with the advice, even though I haven't as yet received a letter, although I am still exercising daily as it's vitally important for mental health and wellbeing.

I hope this helps.

Ian

[Anneian in reply to Trueblue8]

Hi

Thanks for reply. I telephoned my GP and he said neither of us are in the ‘at risk’ category but as he only receives letters from the consultants had a feeling he doesn’t understand how much the illnesses affect us. We have been isolating but are due to fly in May so not sure whether to take the risk or not.

[Chaz1 in reply to Anneian]

The Government state all with Blood Cancer are in the at risk category so continue with your isolating. The Foreign office is advising against all but essential travel for the foreseeable future so unfortunately you won't be flying anytime soon. You will however be entitled to a full refund.

[Hidden in reply to Chaz1]

but the Government don't recognise MPN as blood cancer this is where much confusion is had.... the WHO reclassed it many years ago but DWP don't recognise it as cancer...

[Eadaoin in reply to Trueblue8]

Well done. Me too. Keep safe and keep going.

[Eadaoin in reply to Anneian]

A text I received from Gov.uk refers people to their GP or to their healthcare professional for assessing an individual’s level of vulnerability. I registered with Gov.uk after already receiving information on my condition via MPN Voice. The above text was the response I received. It felt like I was going round in circles - so I stopped twirling and got on with shielding! Better safe than sorry 😃

[SuET2017]

As above. Those of us who work in healthcare, or other key worker roles, but should be or are shielding, need the letter for the employer to be able to get paid, or claim sick/universal credit etc.

[Simris]

Hi Trueblue8

This seems terribly long time to wait for at rusk letter. I'm assuming every surgery will be different but I've received mine, I do feel these letters should be given top priority!!!!! Hope you're taking good care of yourself, stay safe 🌈

Phyllis xx

[Trueblue8 in reply to Simris]

You take care as well

Ian x

[Tomaj]

I just got my GP letter yesterday dated 7th April. It states I have to shield for 12 weeks. It's ok because I'm working from home. Thank God I have a job where I can work from home. There is talk about furloughing staff though. We are entering a new reality.

[jodary]

Just to say in case it helps anyone, I havent had a letter but registered myself as vunerable on the Goverment website after getting the link off here. As a result I have had 2 emails from supermarkets offering me priority shopping slots. This takes away all of the worry about getting shopping. I presume they check with NHS as you are asked for your NHS number.

[Booagain]

Many thanks. Seems to be a lot of confusion around this letter.

[Trueblue8 in reply to Booagain]

There certainly does! Thanks for your reply and stay safe

Ian

[jodary]

Update. The letter arrived today.

[Wyebird]

Thank you

[Cja1956]

In the US, we don’t get individual letters. Our local government sends general emails and has city-wide phone calls with panels of experts. Yesterday our city declared a state of emergency and we are not even allowed to leave our apartment without a mask. I have MF and have been self-isolating for about a month now. I just assume I am high-risk and if I do go out, I take the necessary precautions. Luckily, I am able to work from home. Our country is trying to “flatten the curve”, but we still have a long way to go.

Take care,

Cindy

[Trueblue8 in reply to Cja1956]

Hi Cindy, thanks for your reply. Like you, I've assumed I'm high risk right from the start, because it's the sensible thing to do. I've also had an email from my consultant telling me that in accordance with the Government's guidelines I'm in the high risk category.

I see it's bad in the States, particularly New York City, the images of the mass graves were truly shocking.

Take care and stay safe

Ian x

[Cja1956 in reply to Trueblue8]

Yes, this country just can’t get it under control, it seems. It’s a horrible situation. My son lives in New York with his girlfriend, and although they have been working from home for over a month and they barely leave their apartment, I worry about him constantly.

Thanks for your kind words.

Stay safe, as well.

Cindy

[violeta19]

I have ETJak2 positive my husband has kidney failure and tumors in both kidneys and our GP told us on the phone this morning we are not classed as high risk well i would like to know what is totally disgusted...

[Trueblue8 in reply to violeta19]

I just can't understand the inconsistency among the medical experts, the Government guidelines are clear and unambiguous as far as I'm concerned. Have you contacted yours and your husband's hospital teams as perhaps they will be able to help?

[violeta19 in reply to Trueblue8]

Spoke to hospital that i attend and they agree I am not in the vulnerable categories my husband is on dialysis in the QE in Glasgow don't seem to know anything about it but he will ask again tomorrow

[Trueblue8 in reply to violeta19]

It must be very worrying for you both. As I've mentioned, I haven't had a letter but I'm isolating as much as possible and my wife is doing the shopping, so I think it's a case of just doing what we can to keep contact with others to a minimum.

Very best wishes to you both and stay safe.

Ian

[violeta19]

Guess what Letter arrived today for my husband not for me so far but that allowed me to shop online with Tesco order arriving on Friday what a relief I was really worried thought we would need to risk going out.

[Trueblue8 in reply to violeta19]

That's good news!

Stay safe and take care

Ian