No letter but expecting one?

[Devedaaee]

I’ve read the BSR criteria and it looks like I’m high risk. (I score 3). But no text or letter yet. How many of us in the same boat?

[Lolabridge]

I’m waiting too!

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Hi Lola...Me too No letter.......but common sense tells us we know what we must do...having just seen that young man from NI on TV, lying in his bed on Oxygen, saying how terrible CV19 has been for him......nobody in their right mend is going to take the chance of ending up like that.......just because they didn’t get a letter or not being told they are on a list ,,,,,Are they?

All the precautions that should be taken are all over the internet...on NHS & NRAS sites....so we all know what must be done .....let’s just do it...& get on with our lives the best we can!

China has proved it can be overcome....if they can do it...so can the UK.

[Lolabridge in reply to AgedCrone]

But until I get one and am officially recognised I can’t get shopping deliveries as I’m not yet 70! ☹️

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

I agree that is a problem.....do you think if you composed an email to your GP or your rheumie nurse along the lines of “this is to confirm that Lola??? Is included as vulnerable due to xxxxx..“ he might sign it & get you on the list.?

Otherwise I guess all you can do is hope a friend will help you out.

Do you mean no supermarket will add you to their delivery list unless you are in possession of the NHS letter...or are all supermarket delivery lists just closed to all?

Don’t worry too much...there must be someway to solve this...you can’t be the only one in this position.

Any one got any ideas? Answers to Lola. ASAP PLEASE!

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Look on the NHS CV19 website...you Can register yourself Lola.

[Lolabridge in reply to AgedCrone]

I have tried .... but I have to answer No to the question “Have you received a letter” and so I think my attempt at registration goes into bin ☹️

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Not Necessarily have you gone beyond that Question?

It may go onto a separate section asking you why you think you should be on the vulnerable list.

There are probably thousands who haven’t received the letter I haven’t received one....& I qualify on many counts, but luckily I can get around them, so I am not going to fill in the form just to get my name on the list - when I don’t need any help at the moment they’ve got enough to do dealing with genuine cases like yours.

Do keep going .... I know it’s difficult, if you can’t get out to get food you’ve got to keep trying haven’t you?

[Lolabridge in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes I have kept trying. Got a call from Rheumatology today to say I am high risk but they have not sent out all the letters yet.

Far worse, despite returning RA symptoms I cannot have my next Truxima at end April (6 months since last) and will probably have to wait until July or later. Not allowed to have any steroid injections either or increase Prednisolone dosage.

So the advice was to deal with the increasing pain and reducing mobility and take painkillers. 😢😢😢

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Sadly a lot of us are in that position now Lola. I know at my hospital rheumatology consultants are going to be over the telephone because the senior doctors are needed to deal with the patients with CV 19. We have been asked not to contact the Rheumy department unless we are in dire straits.

Painful as it might be...I think the people with the virus must have priority.

[KittyJ in reply to Lolabridge]

I had an email from Sainsbury’s stating that they are getting a list of vulnerable people next week (not much help to you this week) to be able to offer them delivery slots. It also said they had a whole years worth of contacts in two weeks so that’s why it is difficult. I’m sure they’re doing their best. Is there a community group locally that could help ? COVID-19 Coordination hub I think they’re called, through the local authority.

[Lolabridge in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks Kitty. I've written to Waitrose to ask what they are doing to help us High Risk people who are "shielding".

[KittyJ in reply to Lolabridge]

I hope you get something sorted soon x

[Lolabridge in reply to KittyJ]

Thank you

[LuckysJoy in reply to AgedCrone]

I've done that three times and still no reply so I can't get shopping delivered either

[AgedCrone in reply to LuckysJoy]

I have had a leaflet from my local council...they seem to be organising shopping/drug collection etc.for those who can’t get out.

Why not call your Local council & see if they have anything planned.

Or call your local newspaper ....local papers always have a finger on the pulse as to what is going on.

[Eiram50]

Yep, nothing yet. However, I already know I’m high risk and as we have the information available to us, will follow all guidelines.

Take care everyone.

[AgedCrone in reply to Eiram50]

Exactly...Whatever risk level we think we are at everybody should take every precaution recommended!

I can’t see how getting a letter should make any difference

Better overkill on the precautions .......than ???

[Eiram50 in reply to AgedCrone]

Totally! I absolutely get that it’s a frightening and super Challenging time but, we have the power to take every precaution possible and protect ourselves, our loved ones and the NHS.

Together, we can get through this x

[AgedCrone in reply to Eiram50]

Yes we absolutely can..,Don’t wait for a letter.... Don’t wait for somebody to tell you what to do ......take all the precautions Recommended ....NOW! Don’t wait!

We are all grown up .....we all know what to do do .....let’s just do it.

This time next year we will be really glad we did!

[LuckysJoy in reply to AgedCrone]

Just so you know the difference is the "priority" of getting medications in the event that the pharmacy that is Currently delivering to you, decide to do it on the basis of the letter.

and secondly you can't book an online shop right now and unless you have the letter. so those are two good points. If that helps 🤗

[KittyJ in reply to LuckysJoy]

Has your pharmacy told you they are prioritising people with ‘the letter’ I haven’t heard anyone else say that’s the case.

[AgedCrone in reply to LuckysJoy]

I don’t need the letter LJ...I know what I need to do, & I am lucky enough to have neighbours who are shopping for me.

I have been suggesting ways people can get a copy of the letter if they haven’t received one ......to enable them to get on to a Supermarket’s Vulnerable Persons list.

I don’t know anything about delivering meds....I don’t have any delivered.

[AgedCrone in reply to LuckysJoy]

I think you have got the wrong end if the stick...I was not the one needing the letter.......But thank you for offering to help.

[allanah]

Still waiting and Sainsbury didnt recognise me as a vulnerable person on their government list. My GP however this morning ( I've got an infection ..)said the gps are not supplying the lists its nhs england? But shes ensuring I'm on the gp vulnerable patient list at their practice whatever that means.

Anyway she said stay in 12 weeks and try calling local shops for delivery.

[sunnyweek in reply to allanah]

If you got through to Sainsburys well done, I've tried numerous times. Have you registered on the government site Allanah, I'm not sure if we should or not. I'm on retuximab.

[allanah in reply to sunnyweek]

I did !as I'm on TCZ infusions steroids leflunomide diabetic in remission asthma low white cells and atrial fibrillation but still havent heard anything official!!

[allanah in reply to allanah]

Ooh forget 2 weeks radiotherapy finished last week, I'm doomed!

[allanah in reply to allanah]

Just git a 5 page letter about high risk and shielding from gp

[AgedCrone in reply to allanah]

See above reply you can register yourself on the NHS CV 19 website

[AgedCrone]

But isn’t that all water under the bridge for now?

China is back exporting goods we need.....that is surely a good thing?

The Blame game can be played when everyone is well.

Surely the first priority now is to ensure that every recommended precaution is taken? When you see how many people just one person can infect... Can’t the discussions on China can wait until everybody is fit and well?

I’m sure it will be discussed around the world for years to come...but surely today we must just get on with looking after those who are already sick and preventing any more becoming sick?

[Kerensa21]

You can still fill in the form & put no letter yet 👍x

[AgedCrone]

If we all take all the recommended precautions we will be covering all options...as I said before.... Don’t wait until you see every single pill you’re taking & every single ailment you’ve got to appear on the list.

Wash your hands , stay home unless you have to go out to buy food, go for a walk on your own and keep your distance from other people.

If you think you qualify as Vulnerable......I have just been told you can self register on the NHS website under info on CV19website...l Don’t know the exact website but it should be easy to find.

[rounder]

I didn't get a letter either, but spoke to my GP today who confirmed I fall into the very high risk group and will flag it up on the practice data base.

I guess there are a huge number of applied to do it's inevitable some of us will drop off the radar.

[AgedCrone]

As I replied to Lola and as you have remarked there will probably be thousands of people who have been missed off this list. It looks like I might be one of them, but I don’t need help so I’m not going to register myself just to waste their time just to have my name on a list.

Lola needs to be on the list, so it is worth her while to persevere with the form.

Nhs/Gov staff dealing with this are doing their best, and they don’t need people who don’t need to be on the list to be applying.

[Devedaaee in reply to AgedCrone]

Not really about the help, for me (yet!) but about having a confirmation that someone has actually reviewed.

[AgedCrone in reply to Devedaaee]

Sorry reviewed what? A name on the list?

I read somewhere all letters would be out by 29/3.

So maybe wait until Monday’s post to see if anyone expecting to get a letter gets one?

I think we should all follow all the advice given in all the official websites & not bother our doctors & nurses unless we are in urgent need of treatment,

[crashdoll]

Nothing yet which is strange because I meet the high risk criteria for RA, my neuro condition and my lung condition. I am self isolating anyway because I’m poorly but HR have asked for confirmation when I receive a text/email/letter. So, I do really need it but post is very limited in my area at the moment, so work will have to wait!

[crashdoll]

It’s a huge amount of admin and while I have huge praise for the NHS, admin is not their forte. That said, contacting 1.5 million people is no mean feat, so I am expecting some people’s contact will be delayed and some will be missed.

To be honest, as much as I genuinely love my job and I am a key worker, my health comes first, so they’ll have to wait for a letter. My managers know me well and have no issue with agreeing to an adapted role at home but obviously the official notification is required.

[Floradora1985]

Mine came this morning and I wasn't expecting one, no text beforehand. So some Rhuems are still getting them out. I think they said before the 29th? To confirm these are not coming from a central database but from individual Rhuematology departments working from the guidelines set by the government.

[Hidden]

I got a text on Monday telling me to self isolate because of being very high risk and then I got the letter on Wednesday. It is a horrible feeling when you open it and read it, because although you know it will come, it somehow makes it all seem more real. It even said that I should pack an overnight bag and have it ready in case I have to be taken into hospital. I did that yesterday but I felt sick and shaky after doing it.

Stay safe, well, strong and sane and remember that one day, it will pass.

[LuckysJoy]

Cheers, I've asked manager of my care co. To ring gp in A.M

Cheers

Lisa

[KittyJ]

But that’s not prioritising they’re just going to deliver meds to those shielding.

[AgedCrone]

Ajay ....I have NO issues whatever with these letters....so please don’t surmise that I do.....& do not dare to suggest I am ignoring any of the regulations, because I am not.

The frivolity about creeping out in disguise was a JOKE. Most people understood that, unfortunately it seems you did not.....although it was very obviously not serious.

I live alone, I’m in my late 70’s & my health condition requires that I remain alone in my house for-at the moment- a minimum of 12 weeks. Does that sound like I am ignoring anything?

I maybe old...but as an ex nurse I very well understand the seriousness of this CV19 Pandemic.

I have repeatedly suggested how a copy of the letter can be obtained which together with an NHS number, & possibly a prescription, would I’m sure be acceptable to get on a supermarket‘s vulnerable persons list before it closes.

I have also suggested where further assistance might be obtained.

I would therefore be very grateful if you would desist from bringing my name into the letter discussion ever again.

[AgedCrone]

Thank you Ajay

[AgedCrone]

Thanks......just try not to get too upset Ajay, I’m sure it will get sorted out very soon

[Georgiab123]

Iv had my consultant on phone not all letters are out yet she said I’m getting one so just got to wait

[Georgiab123]

There only sending them out because they don’t need them , kepted them for thereself first was on news last night