Surprise call from the NHS Shielding team

[Mai45]

Apologies if this subject has been done to death already

Using the Addenbrooke’s flowchart posted on here (and thanks, because it was so helpful) I scored some areas as over 70, overweight and long term medication for hypertension, but not for Prednisolone. Although I’ve had PMR since 2016 I’m now down to 3mgm, at most 4mgm, od for some months, apart from a few bad days when I upped short term only, so fell below the 5mgm radar. The conclusion seemed pretty straight forward, the very clear flowchart categorising me as At Risk rather than High Risk so have been sticking to guidelines for that ever since.

Now I’ve had a call from the NHS Shielding team to tell me a ‘vulnerable’ letter is on the way, and take me through a check list to identify any help I might need.

I wondered if this was a new round of letters pulling in the less vulnerable? Any one else who thought it didn’t apply to them had a similar call or letter? Not worried, just interested to try and work out what might have changed.

[Hidden]

Hi mai45, it's the hypertension and bmi. They ha e been at the top of the shielding hit list when together. Your Dr just hadn't got round to you no doubt as the goal.posts kept moving.

[Mai45 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Poopadoopy - concentrating on having dodged the bullet on the Pred, I had missed that part. I knew the goalposts were moving but hadn’t realised I was now within their sights

Oh well, maybe I can get shopping delivery slots once the letter arrives, though I’ve been quite happy with Click & Collect. Tesco does it very well, directs you into to the parking bay, tell you to stay in the car until they’ve put your order by your boot, step back and then tell you to get out now to load the boot. Once done you get back in the car, they step forward and take their boxes away. Very slick, very professional, no contact - just a lot of washing down once you get home.

Makes us all realise how very important those so called ‘unskilled’ roles are

[Hidden in reply to Mai45]

It is a bit of a pickle but Iceland do a weekly email scrum. I have managed to get a Tesco shop every month, having waiting for what seemed like an age for the first one. Asda seems to open up slots. You just have to be on the ball Nd if you do a night run to the loo have a quick check. If you have someone who can continue your click and collect strangely that's fine. The RVS have set up the collection system now too. I did a post the other day. I will link you to it.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk.......

Make sure you register online at gov uk immediately and if you don't have a regular person to pick up stuff say so. I ha e had calls from support people.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

[Mai45 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Poopadoopy but I’m ok for that, I tend to stay up late anyway (working through Spooks right now, and then I’ll rewatch The West Wing) so I can log on late anyway. So far, so good and just feel a bit guilty if I take any special assistance because I’m aware there are many far more vulnerable than I am.

I did just ring the surgery, which I should probably have done first, and they confirmed they now have me flagged as High Risk but not necessarily because if Pred, weight or hypertension. They say that NHS England are now trawling through potentials going back several years of medical history so, for me at least, that now makes sense.

Hope this helps anyone else suddenly getting a call out of the blue.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mai45]

Except the RVS scheme - you know, the NHS volunteers they called for? - has 600,000 people sitting around waiting for something to do!!! You'll be doing them a favour - being bored and waiting for work is awful!

[Mai45 in reply to PMRpro]

Actually, I was thinking of joining them!

If I’m stuck at home for 12 weeks I could at least phone people who are finding isolation difficult , but then again the threat of regular calls from me... I’d hate to be the cause of someone breaking isolation and running down the road screaming “it’s her again!”

[Hidden in reply to Mai45]

There were only 50,000 requests for helps of any sort so they aren't rushed off their feet!

[tangocharlie in reply to Mai45]

The charity PMRGCAuk is looking for volunteers for a 'buddy scheme' for those isolated who can't get to groups, use the internet etc. Contact Candy if interested, they're puttiing together a team right now.

[Mai45 in reply to tangocharlie]

Thank you

[Mai45 in reply to tangocharlie]

Thanks for that, but as I thought I ought to offer something I’ve now signed to offer phone support through the local council. They are also looking for volunteers and placing fairly quickly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mai45]

Doesn't stop YOU having a volunteer shopping for you though

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

Iceland, though they don't stock everything, seems to be the one with the most available slots. I got one today for Monday between 7 and 9 am! Still no one will see me in my dressing gown, as I go down to open my front door when I get the 'we're on our way' call and then back upstairs to my flat and thank the driver through my closed door.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

I got a very small delivery from them today. I ordered from there for Quorn but of course on delivery day, again, everything but the Quorn arrive. I Am sticking with Tesco now. They didn't have Quorn either but at least I spend what I spend. I was buying rubbish from Iceland like cereal which I hardly eat as their veg etc not good and an extra 30ud pounds I wouldn't spend. Asda has slots too....they had lots earlier but I have 3 Tesco slots in May now. When June comes I will get some more hopefully but I am sick if not seeing all the fruit and veg and picking my own.

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

I think there's a scarcity of Quorn ,my daughter didn't get any in Lidl last week - now we've got our chickpeas back there's no Quorn. I know what you mean about Iceland, I buy things I don't really need to get above the £25 checkout limit but I have absolutely no luck with Asda at all; one slot came up a couple of weeks ago and when I clicked it showed error. For some reason I'm not on the priority list though my GP's receptionist told me three weeks ago that I should be getting a letter, nothing has materialised so I just have to try and get what I can where I can.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

There were 10 slots at Asda yesterday or the day before (😱 time) and it could be weekly, but I was just putting things on for the building up. If I need one later I will have to keep my fingers crossed.

Silly question but I presume you filled in the online form regardless of the letter?

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

I did fill in the form got an acknowledgment text but nothing further. On the form I did say I had someone who could get food for me so perhaps honesty wass my downfall.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

I think people had not realised what asking people or people offering to do things for 3 months or more was going to be like. It will maybe be longer. If you can get through on the phone to certain places they may help now things are set up a bit. I know of people who were not on the initial shielded phase but some supermarkets put them on priority. But must confess although I am covered this month I spent hours inline checking every few minutes.

Tesco are due a slot release. Been stuck at 22nd of may for a week.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

They have just insisted on the daily briefing that if you don't want the "care packages" from the local authority you can ask for priority slots at supermarkets. I wasn't listening closely - but I do know you can contact a local authority helpline and I imagine that if you got to the RVS helpline they will also advise on what options are available to you. I'm sure they would have vegetarian local volunteers who would know where to look!!!

And about the price comments - I noticed steep price increases in my supermarket this morning. It is something I have noticed before - there is a period about now where certain items suddenly become very expensive for a week or two. it is a strange inbetween season for us. But this year there is the added inconvenience of Covid-19 and a shortage of harvesters all over Europe as a result. Which inevitably will add to supply costs.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

The veg box people are doing long emails every week examining where things are coming from and when they don't get the order etc. The prices are at that seasonal change. Another few weeks and the summer stuff will start and I suspect the boxes will be fuller. I don't mind if they charge me for more but put the same in but j suspect too complex for the system!

[Pippah45 in reply to Mai45]

I thought I could get deliveries now I am on the list - BUT Tesco have no priority slots and it took them about two weeks to get me on the priority list! I haven't discovered how to get on Morrisons list but do have a delivery coming from them in 2 weeks!

[Hidden in reply to Pippah45]

More are freeing up near me for Tesco. From the 8th may I have 1 a week for 3 weeks which will increase my fresh veg consumption. The quality of my weekly veg box has reduced recently. Given I couldn't get a slot anywhere for a month it's better now. Iceland do a Thursday scrum down for spots, but I am not keen as the only frozen thing I needed has been unavailable once the order delivered.😤

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

P.s you have to check everyday several times a day for new slots.

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

I do - or I was doing - but have rather given up now. Perhaps I must try again. Will see what tomorrow's dawn delivery will bring and perhaps try again. Also local greengrocer, though number was permanently engaged last time I tried.

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

My veg box went up by £5 and although the quality is good that was pushing the budget a bit and someone has given me the name of a local greengrocer who is delivering so, if Iceland fresh veg is not up to scratch may try that. This way I spare my daughter the long - and potentially dangerous queues.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

I know the wholefood shop has gone from a couple if hundred max boxes a week to 500 uplus and just can't source the amount and quality of organic veg and increased by 2 quid.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

I suspect everything has gone up - Spain is struggling to get stuff picked. The rest of Europe is about to discover that veggie pickers are skilled workers too!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Having spent my childhood and some of my adulthood picking potatoes, cauli, cabbage, sprouts, tomatoes, rhubarb, spring onions, raspberries, peas and some I may have forgotten, it is highly skilled and bloody hard work.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It is certainly hard work!!! Packed with wasps as well ...

Wasn't a lot skilled about the blackcurrants for Ribena but it paid. And you learnt to cope with a lot of stuff. Would have done OH good. His brother picked peas - he worked on the boating lake. He's lazier as a result ...

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

They've actually flown some people here to cope with the asparagus crops.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

Romanians have arrived in the UK too. They will get the message I hope.

[borednow in reply to Pippah45]

After an initial bumpy start, Morrisons are doing brilliantly for me. Just had delivery (all went smoothly) and have now booked next delivery for middle May. Can then add to it or take things off up to 72 hours before delivery date. Simples!!!!

[Mai45 in reply to Pippah45]

Good luck with getting further slots

[Pippah45 in reply to Mai45]

Praise be - I got a slot in the priority section - to fit in with the Morrison next delivery!

[Ladymax123]

My first notification came in the form of telephone call from GP.

That was 4 weeks ago. Told to shield etc etc.

Yesterday had official letter from NHS . This letter was standard format on shielding .

[Mai45 in reply to Ladymax123]

Interesting. Since posting I’ve been contacted by both the local Council support team and the surgery, but no sign of a letter yet. From your comment looks like that may be some time!