Hope everyone is staying as safe as possible, I have two quick questions it may sound silly but I can't seem to find the answers after much looking around.
So if sheilding lasts 12 weeks does that start from when we all went into lockdown or when you get your letter?
And the second is, others are waiting for boris and company to lift lockdown but who will let the sheilded know? would we get a "good to go outside now" letter? Or would it be a call, text or email.
My concern is that as we all had our sheilding letters at different times and from different organisations and if this happens on the flip side of lockdown some of us may slip through and spend less /longer than necessary in sheilding.
These may be totally mundane but I can't find out the answer to either and am hoping with all people that use this site someone somewhere would have seen something even if it was just in passing.
Thank you all in advance.
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pat66
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Good question. Every time I get a letter it starts from the day it was sent for 12 weeks. (I’ve had 7)I had a text today saying it has been extended to 30th June. I expect this will be reviewed nearer that date.
Thanks for your reply, wow 7 so each time you received one the sheilding reset itself?
That's crazy but at least you are on their radar and having a text too should hopefully mean when it is safe to venture out and you will be updated. I have just received mine (sheilding letter) today after multiple calls to both rheumatology and gp's. I was told by many people that the Welsh government were sending them out... Yet mine came from rheumatology dept, so who knows.
Sorry I wasn’t clear 7 letters 3 shielding 4 high risk but yes each later stated 12weeks from date on letter🤷♀️🤷♀️best thing is to do what’s right for you. My RA is not stable and I’m on a Biologic and mtx. Depends what score chart your reading I’m very high/shielding if they don’t know then I’m doing what’s best for me so I’m shielding. I need blood test every month that tells me I’m at risk .
I should say confusing, I only take humira and was told by gp that I was in moderate risk but your right you know what is best for you. I am going to keep doing what I have for the last few days instead of working 5 days a week I am going to work from home 4 days from 5.
I hope they all pull together for once and do what's right to try and sort out the chaos.
Personally I think the best option is to use common sense and intuition, which is what I've been doing, rather than wait for the government to tell me what to do. Let's face it, they have made a right cock up of things so far.
Hi wishbone, but we keep electing them so really who is to blame.
Ask anyone with half a brain and they would tell you that politicians lie, yet we toddle off and elect them. I am going to play it by ear with my shielding letter, work have allowed me to work from home 4 days out of 5 so fairly happy with that.
I could not agree more, hence we reap what we do sow and get the governments we deserve. Who is to blame that the NHS and care services having been under-financed for many years, is it government or the electorate who would be up in arms if told they need to pay a couple of quid more tax to bring about a significant improvement to essential public services. If one thing can be said for this pandemic it is it has certainly highlighted some longstanding issues with this country. How much will change after this crisis remains to be seen, but whatever is done one thing I do know is it won't be enough.
The Scottish people had a chance to stop that happening when they had the indpendance referendum 5 or 6 years ago. I never have and never will vote for the tories either and a good number of my recent posts make no bones about what I think about this government.
It was a sad day when we lost the referendum and we’d be in a different place. Our nhs hasn’t been broken up like in England but we’re still constrained. It’s a sad mess isn’t it.
Although I can understand why Scotland would want independance when you look at the state of UK politics, and even more so after this sad mess. I'm glad you turned it down in a way as it would be ever so sad to see Scotland leave the UK.
Agree that this is not the place to talk politics and I do try to refrain believe me. It can be difficult though when discussing this crisis as some things need to be said.
I don’t particularly like political posts on here, but labour managed to bugger up the nhs from 2000 -2007 to be fair. Botched gp contract and the closure of a huge number of smaller hospitals reducing the bed stock to fill the financial black hole. Has partly caused today’s situation. It’s such a political hot potato that no one has the balls to change anything with the business model that makes a significant difference. I was part of the Norfolk chief execs group from 2003-2009 😊
Exactly what has that got to do with the mishandling of this crisis. Labour are not in power and haven't been for many years, the Consevatives have! If it was Labour in power, who I also have little confidence in, then I would criticise them just the same. You seem to be trying to make this thread party politlcal, which is certainly not my intention.
Whoa! Why all the aggression? You had already turned it into a political post by saying you’d never vote Tory and have made that clear in other,posts didn’t you? Labour have t been in power for years, but neither can their decisions be reversed
Agree to disagree people we are all in the same boat, we have all been made to suffer both financially and medically by who ever is in power. It's a shame that we only really have two parties that always seem to get elected. Thank goodness for this site where we can all band together for advice and support.
I did not mean to be aggressive and apologise if I came over that way, but it could be said that your post could be construed as not particularly genial either, but no doubt you were just trying to make your points firmly as I was.
That aside, I may have said I would never vote tory, but that's not what I call bringing party politics into it like your post plainly did. As said in my reply, I would criticise Labour or any other party if they mishandled the pandemic like the current government has. It often happens that people who loyally support a certain political party will follow what governments usually do in that situation, and that is try to deflect criticism onto something or someone else when it is pefectly justified and they can't answer the question without admitting they made a mistake, and this government has had plenty of practice at doing that over recent months.
Right on.....I know when my 12 weeks started & I am using my common sense (?) and I’m sticking to that.
As you say........I don’t think communication is proving to be top priority .......but then from watching the daily bulletins...nobody appears to understand the game plan!
Agree Wishbone - Numbers rising, no vaccine and letting people back out. I must confess I am somewhat confused as to how different are things now to say ok let’s get people out. It's all about the economy. Hope all’s well. Hessie ☺️
I certainly am better, still sore hands in morning but compared to where I was a year ago I am not complaining ☺️I am happy all good for you, we are a tough bunch on this forum, our faith, resilience gets us through.
Glad to hear it. I still need to take a fairly high dose of pain relief, hands and feet are still not good, but compared to how I was for a long time, I'm not complaining. Like you say Hessie, we are a tough bunch here.
Coming out of shielding at different times from each other does not make much sense.
We all sheild together and come out if it together, I expect we will be advised soon of the plan, but I don't expect shielding to end anytime soon. We may be shielding until a vaccine is produced.
During the daily bulletins I have never heard any mention of Shielding or any other category of Lockdown, apart from the 70+ who are seemingly expected to hibernate for ever.....but from the geriatric politicians swanning around it seems very much do as we say, not as we do!
Must have missed that day! But as none of the so called experts appear to understand those Shielding for any reason are really sick people ...of whom 99% understand their own condition....it’s probably probably best they say nothing, rather than muddy the waters even more.
I’ve submitted a question on the .gov website today about this for today’s daily briefing. I guess if they don’t know the answer, it’s unlikely they will choose my question though
My letter said 12 weeks from the date of the letter.
I rather think the shielded will remain so until further notice. We would cause havoc in the NHS if the virus picks up again, and sadly, I rather think it will.
I hate to say this but I spoke to my gp last thursday as I needed antibiotics and he told me he really wants me to stay in and be shielding until the time comes when there is either a vaccine or a treatment. He said otherwise there will always be that potential to it being just around the corner. xx
My best advice is(and i am sure you have already been told this) is go from the time you and i mean you went into isolation. There is nothing certain about whats happening right so there are no right answers. As my dear old mum used to use your loaf, lol. xxxx
I know pretty scarey but then I want to be here at the end of it all. Unforunately dont rely on the government they keep sending mixed messages so people are just going bugger it I am going out. Alot are not obeying by the rules and just doing their own thing which will impact on everybody. I actually think all the nurses and doctors must be shouting at the screens when they hear their claptrap and will be bracing themselves for the next wave as all the government is thinking of is the economy. You watch this weekend the numbers in the week will go sky high again. Too many deaths still to ease lockdown just my opinion. xxx
It will be dreadful...the lowliest jobs will go....so the Benefits Bill will soar - at least at first...& if businesses don’t have confidence to soldier on......???
I do hope someone living in the real world has a hand in the solution,
That is the problem. Whether people have good or bad debt. How much existing credit they're carrying.
We've had the £10k grant and 80% of my team are furloughed plus I've got a £50k bounce forward loan. It's how that money is used which will be the issue. Using it to get by as a substitute income is not good. Marketing to get new clients is good.
Our podiatry clients are planning now to start seeing people again and will probably be one of the first back. I've also got new podiatrists starting as they're making their onsite receptionist redundant and I think we'll see a lot of that too. Good for us, but very sad for the receptionist.
I am hoping that when Boris updates on Sunday he may give advice to those shielding. Not that I'm holding my breath but whatever he says I will shield until I see those infection rates reduce much much further than they have so far.
I am shielding due to methotrexate and a lung disease. Of course we don't know what the PM is going to say on Sunday even though many people think they have a crystal ball and can read his mind but we know that 'lockdown' restrictions are going to be lifted to some degree. I am appalled that any change to lockdown is even being considered when there are still 600+ people a day dying in from this virus. We all know what is going to happen and by August if not before, we will be in a worse position than we were two weeks ago. I know the economy is important and things need to start moving again but I just hope it starts with workers and not the general public being allowed out. It will just open the flood gates to all the less intelligent people out there ( the politest form I can use.) I am going nowhere until I can be vaccinated. Stay safe everyone. x
But playing Devil’s Advocate....who is to say “workers“ ...who in fact are the general public.... are less likely to spread the virus?
I fear a vaccine is a long way off.
Anybody...even us...can be walking around asymptomatic .... but be a carrier.....so until 100% of the population is tested ...& even that won’t help because obviously you can test negative today....but be positive tomorrow.
Of those 600+ people dying each day we don’t know what their state of health was before they contracted CV19. If they were elderly, or obese smokers or they had underlying health conditions they weren’t aware of.....that could skew the figures. We don’t know any details not even at what stage of treatment they died.
We at least know we are at risk and & have the knowledge to deal with things sensibly....unfortunately most of the general public don’t.
I think the problem may be be if X sector workers are allowed to return to work but are too scared to return & the unions get involved asking for certain conditions to be met......that is going to muddy the waters big time.
You are absolutely right. The bottom line is that we will never be safe. That is a fact of our lives from now on and we have to do what we are comfortable with. Frankly, as long, as I can see my family that is enough for me. x
Iv had 2 letters at different times, however as they were late in sending them out and bearing in mind they are standard letters, I believe the shielding started from lockdown. X
Iv had the letter for 12 week ... but my most recent was yesterday a text from the
NHS Coronavirus Service ... shield at home until 30 th June unless told otherwise by a healthcare professional it what I think is really special and caring the nurse from my local surgery calls out to the house to take blood on a regular basis xx excellent service xxxx
this is such an important question I have had 2 letters and one text I was assuming that it was 12 weeks from lockdown .I work in Sainsburys I had my weekly catch up with my Manager yesterday and told her that on our company Corona virus Q and A site it now states that staff who have had the letters are now shielding until 30th June ,she was not aware of this.Also I can't find any information anywhere as to how we enter back into what is the new normal .I am very worried that one day we are shielding and scared to go out of the garden if we have one and the next day put your uniform on and go back to work as if nothing has happenrd .As I pointed out to my Manager you have all grown into the new way of working life as it has developed so it is now second nature to you ,when I last worked a shift on 20th March we were using hand sanitisers and wiping down keypads that was all I believe that there should be a couple of weeks where we can venture out for a walk ,learn how the new shopping system works and slowly get back into mainstream life we can't be chucked in at the deepend
The reality is there is not really going to be any safe time for us to exit lockdown until a vaccine in available. I am shielding but have still be going out for daily exercise but have made sure I ve been near no one. At some point everyone shielding is going to have to make their own choice as to how much they want to expose themselves to outside forces. The only alternative is to wait for a vaccine that may never arrive.
If people would stick to proper distancing, I’d be getting daily exercise too. Stuck in a first floor flat with no garden is extremely difficult and unhealthy. 😕
I really feel sympathy for you........must be really difficult not to have a garden right now.... this Pandemic has finally persuaded me to stop looking for a flat....I would love to live without stairs...but these last couple of months just being able to walk outside & know I won’t have to watch out to avoid people has been very therapeutic.
We can only hope if the lockdown isn’t suspended ....people will become more thoughtful.
Thanks, AC. I want to move, never intended to be resident in this flat but it was all I had after divorcing. Bought to let ie a roof over the head of my second son who has Asperger Syndrome. Ok to let to family member if you never lived there yourself and can prove it. ( for HB purposes, for him) He had lived in rented accommodation for several months prior to my purchasing the flat.
It has communal entrance with buzzers for each flat, so seemed a safer option for him back in 2009.
But it is also a godsend for me since RA struck in 2015, and subsequent divorce. It is close to everything I need with the bonus of being perched above very nice views at one side. I can see Spring unfolding to summer, use my exercise bike for short periods whilst looking out and admiring the beauty. There could occasionally be a cormorant, or otter. Daily, there are swans and bluetits etc.
I hope that eventually I will move to a house or bungalow with a garden but meantime am counting my blessings. 🙂
Well done you on making the best of it.....I may have a garden, sadly no pretty views but very kind neighbours who offered to shop for me.
But not before teasing me about taking advantage of their youth!
But having seen the mile long queues outside supermarkets I. wonder what I would have done when my freezer finally became empty. Right now with a sore back I could not stand & queue for a long time.
Let’s hope when things get sorted a nice bungalow will appear.I Gave up on bungalows in this area not having the odd half £million lying around in my back pocket!😟
Yes, bungalows can be expensive. I quite like a terraced property though, so maybe one with a garden might be affordable. Something is bound to turn up.
Queueing for me is out of the question too. So far, my lovely son has managed and says it was no added stress. Good fellow!
We will make it out the other side of this and taste freedom again!
Thank you for replying, I am going with the date on the letter. My works have been good up to this point allowing me to work from home 4 days out of 5 but with this letter I am going to ask for the whole 5. we need vaccinations, but it is coming for us to wear masks sooner rather than later even if they won't admit it. Enjoy your lovely views and Stay safe.
I take a biologic and methotrexate. There are charts from different regions which seam to contradict one another 🤷🏽♀️ . If you just take methotrexate then you are a low risk on one chart but a high risk on another.. so confusing
I wouldn't take any notice of a shielding letter. If you are so vulnerable then I guess you will need to shield for as long as the virus is around. You need to do whatever is right for you as you can't rely on government to tell you when it's safe to venture out as quite frankly they don't know.
Just use common sense, follow guidelines and don't be so hung up on letters and dates as no one is safe whilst the virus is out there.
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xxx
Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel?
The never ending chest infection. 
Light at the end of the tunne 
Light At the End Of the Tunnel
'at my wits end' kinda day. 
