Lolabridge in reply to sallyc

I suggest you contact your GP as you should have received a letter by now.

Your medications put you in the "shielding category" according to the table produced by the British Society for Rheumatology.

Neonkittie17 in reply to sallyc

Hi Sally I hope you get yours. You are certainly in the highest scoring. I haven’t had a letter either and l know from speaking to one of the rheumy nurses at the hospital about postponing my infusions for a couple of months, that they cannot identify who is on what medication easily from their records to write to them, so I doubt I’ll get one. I know they struggle with anything out of normal procedure as they are so stretched. I did register as vulnerable with the government online form. Just got a standard acknowledgement a couple of weeks ago. I am going to write to my GP to clarify where I think I stand.

I am on Mtx injections and Rituximab infusions every six months. That scores 2 and in the self isolate category from the British Society of Rheumatology. Btw the nurse I spoke to said aggressively to me ... I don’t give a monkey’s about NRAS ... when I mentioned the difference in scoring category. I simply said I’d go with what everyone is following from the British Society. I told him I only mentioned it to him to point out there were differing views. I find him so rude anyhow and don’t really like to deal with him but it’s him or no one at the mo. I am not taking oral steroids but I know my lungs are very sensitive to Rtx and it causes me to pick up chest infections and pneumonia. I’m on antibiotics every other month (Doxy) usually, for the past two years. Had 11 lots of abx in the past 16 months. It gets rid of it but it bounces back. (Clear CT and X-ray). I have been told by my consultant I get regular episodes of bronchitis (has turned to pneumonia when abx haven’t been prescribed) ) as a result of Rtx and low immunity. I don’t think my bronchitis is a comorbidity as such although it is more troublesome when it happens than the RA! I also have Graves’ disease which is hyperthyroidism but it’s stable and not classed as a reason to shield of course. I take Carbimazole to control it since 2006 and for the foreseeable future. Graves is classed as a comorbidity but not in the terms of this issue and for shielding.

The last paragraph on the British Society for Rheumatology at the foot of their chart includes the following ... “Patients who have R.A. are at an additional risk and may need to be placed in the shielding category”. Surely that and my meds would warrant a letter? I don’t think my hospital will provide one. As I said, too pushed to do admin.

It’s a bit of a grey area tbh for some people, but I am going to write more of less the above to remind my GP and hope if she is unable to provide a confirmation letter, that she can our my letter on my file. I don’t think the rheumy nurse who I spoke spoke to even knows I have chest issues as he doesn’t know me. He could assess me wrongly as I am not his patient as my biologics nurse sister can only do infusions now and not able to phone people. She’s the biologics expert so to be speaking to a nurse who doesn’t know much about them and is assessing you for categorisation .... it doesn’t work well really! Anyhow ..... good luck with yours. x

she100 in reply to Mjw123

same here! 14day sick note,

rounder in reply to Callabag64

I registered with the Gov.uk site and about 10days later had emails from 3 supermarkets to say I was on their vulnerable list, I still couldn't get a slot with Sainsbury or Ocado, but ASDA offered a free priority pass with a weekly recurring slot so I get deliveries from them every Friday.

jane1964 in reply to Callabag64

I have found Tesco's and Asda useless but Iceland much better it might vary by area but worth a look

Mall in reply to Callabag64

Have you tried Asda. I had the same problem with Sainsbury’s and Tescos. I couldn’t get a slot with either. I managed to book a slot with Asda 3 weeks ahead, but was able to make this a recurring weekly slot. Meanwhile I have managed to get a click and collect slot. My first home delivery is 9th May.

You need to register with the supermarkets to ensure they have your details, they can then identify you on the government lists. Asda seems to let you book farther ahead than the other two whose sites say no free slots.

I have also found that some small local butchers and grocery shops, farm shops, have started delivering too. Try looking for a neighbourhood web or Facebook site local to you which may list them. Or look there phone number up and give them a ring, Quite a few smaller shops are going out of there way to help, we don’t need to rely only on supermarkets.

Neonkittie17 in reply to Booelford

Can you make an appointment with the practice nurse at the GP? I did that as didn’t want to go to the hospital phlebotomy department as it can be crowded and people let their kids run about. The GP surgery had only one patient in at a time and you had to knock on the practice manager’s window at the side of the building to announce you had arrived and then wait until she unlocked the door to gain entry. There was one lady in reception far away behind a barricade of hazard-tape-d up chairs and high reception desk and the nurse came out for me straight away in gloves, gown and mask. No one came in whilst I was there and I went out alone. Try phoning your GP surgery and see if you can have it done there. (I wore a mask and outdoor light gloves. )