Has anyone with RA received a letter about Shielding for 3 months ?

Hi everyone this is my first time on this forum. I kinda found it by chance, I was looking to see if anyone with RA had been letterd about shielding for 3 months due to autoimmune deficiency because of the disease. I would appreciate if some one could get back to me. My current medication is salvasalazine and enanercept injection once weekly. I was diagnosed 14 years ago and managed it well. I am a nurse and work full time in Glasgow. Thank you Jackie

[Hidden]

Hi missjax and welcome

This is a very popular question. The letters are slowly trickling in over the last day or so but the majority have not received them. I have not received my letter officially. I’m lucky I have a very good Rheumy nurse who answered my email while off sick. My work need a fit note and my gp refused unless I had a notification.

I take methotrexate and etanercept and she confirmed I’m vulnerable and no work for the duration. It was enough to get my fit note from the gp. She said the letters were still being processed this was last Thursday. I’m from Birmingham

[helixhelix]

Scotland is handling things slightly differently, so I don’t believe letters have gone out yet.

But if you work for the NHS they should know!

I also also on similar drugs, and same as J1707, but because I am under 70, have no other diseases, don’t smoke, am not overweight and in good general health I’m not considered highly vulnerable. So it can be a bit individual. It will also depend on what work you do, how much contact you have with people and whether you are being supplied with PPE.

You need to talk to your employer and explain your risks.

[charisma in reply to helixhelix]

Hh, I am in Scotland and got mine on either late Saturday or on Sunday. It is true many might not arrive for a few more days though.

Mine came from the Rheumatology Dept at our Royal Infirmary.

[charisma]

Hi Jackie

I have, along with others. Here’s a link to a flowchart from Leeds Teaching Hospitals that will clarify what category you might be in leedsth.nhs.uk/assets/226b1...

[Hidden in reply to charisma]

Hi charisma. Thanks for that flow chart. Yes looks like the medication I'm on it on the chart.. etanercept.. thanks again. Take care x Jax

[Fra22-57 in reply to charisma]

Many thanks for that.I have downloaded it.I knew it applied for shielding with me but my doctors just dont get it.still having to ring every day about a District nurse to come visit who said I am not in that category. They are not listening to the news aswell are they

[AgedCrone]

Don’t you have an HR department you can ask?

[Hidden]

Hi thanks everyone for getting back. I was advised to ask my ward manager which I have about any safety precautions that could be put in place in the ward but I doubt that very much considering the current situation, she said she would look into this and get guidance from HR, I will keep yous posted. Thanks again everyone. Take care x jax

[BoneyC]

No letters received but GP phoned last Friday to tell me to shield as blood results abnormal , therefore weak immune to fight any infections.