NHS Letter format

[Paramount97]

Hi everyone, just wondering if the letter they received have mentioned explicitly whether they are in shielding... The one I received had a scoring grid and one had to determine the risk themselves accordingly. Like the following:

uhbristol.nhs.uk/media/3757...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

That’s probably because the originators don’t have your full medical records - they just know you have certain diseases that could put you at risk.

So you are the only one who can answer the questions accurately and therefore ascertain what group you fall into.

[Yellowbluebell]

My husbands had he was sheilded and shouldnt go out for 12 weeks. We didnt think he would be so quite a surprise but no big deal as happy to isolate ourselves. Me having pmr and.taking pred quite rightly didnt make me vulnerable as I have no other medical conditions. YBB

[Suffererc in reply to Yellowbluebell]

My husband was classed as vulnerable too but we don’t know why. He hasn’t any real health issues

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Suffererc]

Maybe something to do with a drug he is on more than an specific ailment then? Is he taking anything? YBB

[Jampad]

My letter said I needed to be shielded and I should stay home for twelve weeks.

[Sallyaches]

The shielding letter is generated by central government not a health authority. I n my case it was then followed by a local government letter asking if I needed any help with care needs. This was then followed by unwanted weekly food boxes which I am trying to cancel.

[Hidden in reply to Sallyaches]

Took the words out of my mouth. The text and first letter was from the gov via NHS Coronavirus people, then follow up by a company who got the outsource contract, then the local council, the rheumy and the Dr last. 😱

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

But if you get a letter, especially unsoliticed letter even if it's not saying shielding you "need" to follow the guidelines. 🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sallyaches]

Contact your local food bank ...

[JanetRosslyn]

I got two letters the same day last week, one from Rheumy and one from GP, both saying the government advice is to shield myself until the end of June but that the government is regularly monitoring this position.

[Pixix]

If you look on the govt site you will see a ‘sample’ of the shielding letter, & read it easily. I found it very quickly in order to check mine! It doesn’t sound like one to me. S x

[Marijo1951]

I didn't hear from central government and then local government, as described by Sallyaches. I got a letter at the beginning of April from the Royal Free Hospital where my rheumatologist is based. This letter gives a list of medicines/combinations of medicines which, if you're taking, puts you in the shielding category. It's really up to the recipient to check whether s/he is in that category or not. On the strength of the letter I went on the government website and put myself on the list. I got a text from the government to confirm but haven't heard from the local council, the GP or anybody else.

[Purple-Owl in reply to Marijo1951]

I went to the UK government webste to put myself on the Shielding list, but couldn't find any way to do so. I have finally received the Vulnerable letter, (I am 86, PMR on pred 2.5 years) -but only after asking for it at my medical centre.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Purple-Owl]

It all sounds very hit and miss.

[Hidden in reply to Purple-Owl]

It's not a shielding list as such but you should be able to register as vulnerable. The RVS isn't over run. There are 600,000 volunteers who up to last week had 50,000 requests for help. If you don't have someone to REGULARLY pick up meds and shop you need to say so.

gov.uk/coronavirus-extremel...

I am sure the adult care system of your local council will accept a drs letter as evidence if you are not techy enough. It depends what help you need. Here's a list of the regional centres that help.

gov.uk/guidance/local-resil...

If it's to get s priority shopping slot it is almost as hard to get one. But it worth a try if you don't have sufficient help now.

[Purple-Owl in reply to Hidden]

I've only just found your reply to my complaint that I had been forgotten by the NHS, and never had any letter or help though I am 86 and on pred for PMR for over two years. Thanks so much Poopadoopy. I have finally been able to register on the NHS vulnerable list via the link you gave. I had looked and looked but had not been able to find it before.

[Hidden in reply to Purple-Owl]

I am so glad. You should be able to ask for anything...except a million pounds....once processed. If you ring the RVS number below in a week or so they may push you up the list. 👍🌻

[Hidden in reply to Purple-Owl]

And these are the rvs details

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

[Theziggy]

I got mine from my GP and it told me to shield for 12 weeks

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Theziggy]

OH's first letter was from gp saying he needed to sheild and then he got one from government dept saying the same. Neither was expected but we are happy to isolate🏝

[Rugger]

My letter came from my Rheumatologist: "Having reviewed your records, we think that you should be SHIELDING yourself from coronavirus. Please find attached some further information about this."

There were 11 pages in all, with links to the NHS and Government websites.

[Cally55]

I have had 3 letters, the first from the GPs at the end of March, the second from the regional specialist department in the middle of April and the third with big government logos for 2 departments at the end of April, although that one was just dated April. The first 2 were tailored to me the last was more general and gave the list of people who should be shielded.

What bothers me is that they all say for 12 weeks but have different start dates!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cally55]

That tickled me too! My daughter got hers in the first couple of days so she was a month ahead of some.

[Hidden in reply to Cally55]

I did wonder if these different letters all said different weeks. Mine all arrived in first week or so. I have heard some letters going out saying extended to at least 30th June.

[Bird-67]

Only got mine from GP two days ago after a telephone call from Rheumatologist.

[Odosmum]

Having read what everyone has been saying, I would like to point out that for people in Scotland, the shielding letters come from NHS Scotland. If you think you should have had one, contact your GP asap.