COVID-19 Guidance UPDATE - New national restrictions in England starting Thursday 5th November 2020

[Mazcd]

The government has announced new national restrictions for ENGLAND from Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December 2020, these measures are being put in place to control the spread of COVID-19, the advice is to stay at home and reduce day-to-day contact with other people. Please read carefully the advice issued by the Government, click here gov.uk/guidance/new-nationa...

UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE – new shielding measures under the new national restrictions in England starting Thursday 5th November 2020

The government has issued new information and guidance for everyone in England who has been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable. If you are in this group, you will previously have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP/hospital healthcare team telling you this. You may have been advised to shield in the past, to help protect you from Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Government will write to people with this guidance.

These new shielding measures will apply nationally for 4 weeks up to 2nd December, at the end of the period the government will look to return to a regional approach and will issue further guidance at the time.

You are advised to read the full guidance which also has details about the support available to you with regards to shopping, obtaining prescriptions, employment etc, and how to register for support. gov.uk/government/publicati...

We also advise that you refer to the guidance we issued for people with MPNs , there are no changes at present to this advice. mpnvoice.org.uk/coronavirus...

Advice for people living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The advice is different in each of these countries. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you are advised to check and follow the advice issued which can be found on the following government websites:

The Scottish Government gov.scot/

Welsh Government gov.wales/coronavirus

Northern Ireland – NI Direct Government Services nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/c...

Emotional and wellbeing advice

How do I look after my emotional wellbeing during this stressful time?

Feeling concerned or overwhelmed by the news of Coronavirus is understandable, whether you are thinking about your own health and the possible impact, or for someone close to you. If you are feeling this way, remind yourself that there are practical things you can do, we have a lot of very useful information on our website to help you, including information you can download, relaxation podcasts to listen to and a video with advice from Dr Abbie Wickham, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Psychology Team, who discusses the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the MPN community and how to resolve these stresses. Click on the links below for details.

•Dr Abbie Wickham video – looking after yourself (you will need to scroll down on the page for video)

mpnvoice.org.uk/coronavirus...

•Day-to-day life, making decisions about your risk of exposure

mpnvoice.org.uk/coronavirus...

•Emotional and wellbeing advice

mpnvoice.org.uk/coronavirus...

•Relaxation podcasts for people with MPNs

mpnvoice.org.uk/coronavirus...

These are very unsettling times, regardless of where you live and the restrictions you are living under and we would encourage you to keep in touch with your family and friends, and take time to think of your mental and physical wellbeing.

We will be holding a virtual patient support event – Ireland, on Saturday 28th November. This patient support event will focus on the emotional and wellbeing aspects for people with MPNs during the pandemic, with talks from a clinical psychologist and a specialist nurse from Mercy University Hospital Cork, and a psychotherapist/complementary therapist from St Vincent’s Hospital Dublin. The topics will cover emotional wellbeing, managing anxiety, coping with fatigue and sleep problems and keeping safe. We will also have talks from 3 MPN patients. Details for this patient support event will be announced very soon. This event will be streamed live on the day, videos of the presentations will be available afterwards on our YouTube channel. Everyone will be welcome to watch the live streaming of this patient support event, regardless of where you live.

We will update as necessary.

Stay safe and well.

[socrates_8]

Thanks Maz for keeping us all up to date & safe w/ CV–19 etc...

Stay safe & well...

Steve

[Ovingite]

Many thanks Maz,

As always, thorough and we'll thought through advice for your flock. Once again MPN Voice leads the way.

John

[poly2]

Please could someone clarify as to whether we should shield or not. I have looked at the government site and it clearly states that the clinically extremely vulnerable including blood cancer should not go to work and also the same information on the blood cancer UK website. I'm pleased maz has responded but so much conflicting advice is getting quite confusing. I am also a key worker and my employer is expecting me to be off from Thursday.

Thanks

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to poly2]

Hi Poly2, shielding has not been re-introduced, you are advised to follow the guidance issued by the Government:

There is a further group of people who are defined, also on medical grounds, as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus – that is, people with specific serious health conditions. Over this period, we are advising the clinically extremely vulnerable to work from home. If you cannot work from home, you are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). You are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, but are encouraged to go outside for exercise. The full guidance is available and the Government will write to everybody who is clinically extremely vulnerable to set out detailed advice while the new restrictions are in place.

[westlieght]

Evening Maz

We in north Devon SO FAR feel safe BUT 😷 all these people travelling to are Beautiful countryside inevitably will bring the virus !

Am pending infusion liver has to much iron have Blood transfusion around 4 monthly!

Am keeping well and keeping positive !

Hope all is well and safe with you too ! Margaret xx

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to westlieght]

Hello Margaret, yes we are very lucky to be living here in North Devon where we have been very lucky. Hope all goes well with the transfusions, and glad to hear you are well and staying positive. All good here with me in here in Beaford, enjoying seeing the sun today. Take care and best wishes, Maz x x x