Letter s

[alton]

Confused.... are we supposed to receive letters from go/hospital again now we are going into lockdown?!

[Hidden]

🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️who knows. GPs have made up their own rules. Our Rheumatologists are in demand with all these covid cases as the virus is like our disease in many ways. I would not he surprised if it does effect us.

[helixhelix in reply to Hidden]

More and more it seems that actually we are lower risk, not higher. And particularly if one is on anti-tnf drugs.

So we are just as likely as anyone else to get it if we don’t social distance, not more likely. Although of course not recommended to get it!

And it seems that we are no more likely to have severe covid than any one else same age, etc.

[Lolabridge]

Probably ... but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

[alton]

Not sure I understand that helixhelix.....so we are supposed to behave as normal?

[wishbone]

I've had one but I'm in Wales. It states that I don't need to re-start shielding as there was a significant downside for many people, especially feelings of lonliness and isolation. Hence there are new but fewer guidelines telling me what I need to do to keep safe, which to my mind do little to end the feelings of lonliness that some people experienced when shielding.

A waste of money in my opinion, doubly so as us taffs recieive copies in both English and Welsh.

[Boxerlady]

I don't think so as we're not really going into lockdown this time. 🤔

[KittyJ]

He said no shielding this time so we shouldn’t get letters.

[Lolabridge in reply to KittyJ]

New guidance for those in England who had to shield last lockdown will be published on Monday 2nd November, according to the gov.uk website.

[Green230461 in reply to Lolabridge]

Thanks for this🌈

[Lolabridge in reply to Green230461]

You can go on the website and sign up to receive the updates about the coronavirus that interest you.

[alton]

The government have made this all clear as mud(as usual)!! A lady in Wales replied saying she got a letter and I noticed on another post mentioned something too?

[BoneyC]

... as I understand it nobody has been asked to shield this time.

When I asked my rheumatologist about it in September, this is what he wrote to my GP:-

"She asked me whether she needs to continue to shield due to low WBC in March/April. I see she has chronic but intertmittent lymphocytosis, as is often seen in RA. Her only overt Covid risk factor is her methotrexate use. As per national guidance, this would require her to strictly social distance only."

I assume it's now "strictly socially distancing".

[Evaflo10s]

The government site says we will all be getting a letter if we were previously shielding , so we know how to keep safe .

Think we’ve pretty much got that covered but nice to be noticed I suppose

[wishbone in reply to Evaflo10s]

If the letter you get is like the one we've had in Wales then the new guidelines are not really new and more or less say the same as the shielding letters I had but with fewer words. Seems to me like they want us to continue shielding without actually telling us to. No doubt due to the financial cost involved with re-introducing shielding.

[Evaflo10s in reply to wishbone]

Yes, I agree. I’m very disappointed not to get the food parcels . I’ve discovered several different food groups exist that I would have never put together without government assistance :).

[wishbone in reply to Evaflo10s]

[Brushwork]

I doubt it as PM said that shielding won't happen this time, but the vulnerable should be extra cautious.

[Ferret18]

This is from PMs statement:

Shielding as practised in the spring will not currently be reintroduced. The clinically vulnerable, or those over the age of 60, should be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise contacts with others. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should not only minimise their contacts with others, but also not go to work if they are unable to work from home.

[CallMeSunny in reply to Ferret18]

It then goes on to say that those “classified” as being Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (as before) will be receiving letters from the Government ....plus details of financial measures for those same people who are not able to work from home but who are being told to stay at home will be outlined on Monday....

[Ferret18 in reply to CallMeSunny]

I can’t see that on the transcript of his announcement. Can you tell me where you have read that please

Thanks

[CallMeSunny in reply to Ferret18]

Gov.UK...New National Restrictions from 5 November...9. Protecting people more at risk from coronavirus.....final paragraph (all of 9. is of interest for ANYONE who is vulnerable

[Ferret18 in reply to CallMeSunny]

Found it. Thanks.

So, we may receive a letter but restrictions won’t be as restrictive as before.

[Green230461 in reply to CallMeSunny]

Thanks for this link 💐

[CallMeSunny in reply to Green230461]

😁

[wishbone in reply to CallMeSunny]

Hiya Sunny,

Similar guidelines to what was in the Wales letter. Interesting what the last paragraph in section 9 says about the extremely vunerable might be eligable for SSP and ESA as there's no mention of that in the Welsh letter. I presume it's to replace furlough, or if that ends, some other form of financial support if shielding was reintroduced. It will be interesting to see what is announced today.

[CallMeSunny in reply to wishbone]

Certainly will! There absolutely has to be a decent sum of money provided for those who are extremely vulnerable and have been told by the Gov they must not go to work.....including several of our own members on here whose symptoms must be hugely exacerbated because of the extra stress of wondering whether to risk health or finances. There are very few ‘winners’ indeed in this sad sorry mess.

[wishbone in reply to CallMeSunny]

Absolutely agree! Seems to me that up until now at least, the working extremely vunerable have come pretty low down the list of government priorities and many other peoples too. Lots of words...little action! I really hope I'm wrong, but forever the eternal pessimist I have a feeling that ain't about to change anytime soon......

[wishbone in reply to CallMeSunny]

So much for that then! All I heard Boris say about the vunerable is they should work from home if they can. End of. Next question. Not that I expected anything else.

[CallMeSunny in reply to wishbone]

Information published ex Gov. who are advising, if in doubt, queries be addressed to ACAS

You are strongly advised to work from home because the risk of exposure to the virus in your area is significantly higher. If you cannot work from home, then you should not attend work.

If you cannot attend work for this reason, you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). The formal shielding notification you receive will act as evidence for your employer of the Department of Work and Pensions that you are advised to shield and may be eligible for SSP or ESA

[wishbone in reply to CallMeSunny]

I've read and understand what was said in your link. I thought we were waiting to hear Boris outline some form of decent financial support in his speech, such as furlough for the extremely vunerable who do not feel it safe to continue working like some members here. Many healthy people who can't work from home get furlough, why not the extremely vunerable who are at much higher risk of being seriously ill or worse! Almost anyone can claim SSP or ESA as you can't claim both. SSP is less than £100, ESA varies but is not much more. I suppose someone can get Universal Credit to top it up a bit but I doubt that will add much. Besides all this could take ages to sort out when many people need money straight away. If it was feasible then I'm sure Boris or other members of government would have mentioned it before now, which as far as I'm aware nobody has, including the Welsh government. Why didn't government/s simply reintroduce shielding with one or two revisions such as allowing people to go outdoors to meet friends and family providing they take every precaution, which is what I do anyway. This would surly go some way to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation in some people, which government say they are so concerned about and the reason for not reintroducing shielding.

[CallMeSunny in reply to wishbone]

All so incredibly distressing for those who do not have decent employers etc

[CallMeSunny in reply to wishbone]

Post just sent re Gov.UK .....Work situation for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable ......letters to be sent to this category only, NOT to all others classified as Vulnerable.

[wishbone in reply to CallMeSunny]

Interested to hear what the English one has to say.

[Vivienham]

I'm on methotrexate (and hydroxy...) and my rheumi told me in July that the thinking has changed and I'm now a moderate risk rather than a severe risk. This seems to agree with what others are saying here.

[Plumcrumble]

Hi, I don't think we will, the advise for shielders was to be extra careful, much like we're doing already, best wishes to all

[CallMeSunny in reply to Plumcrumble]

See reply to Ferret18

[Plumcrumble in reply to CallMeSunny]

Yep, that's how I heard it, thanks 👍

[CallMeSunny in reply to Plumcrumble]

X

[medway-lady]

I had one from the Renal Hospital about 3 weeks ago saying to keep an eye on the news and if I needed advice to contact my Nephrologist and it listed all the Nephrologist's telephone numbers. Did they have an inkling something was going to happen ? as it went on to say they'd give advice on an individual basis regarding shielding and returning to work. I'm retired anyway but nice to think they're on the ball.