Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

That letter looks familiar

I didn't get the letter posted above,with name and nhs no on etc,.classed now as shielded apparently

Marydoll thank you,i must read the letter i got again,i am not on any medication at all, but i am mid 70s,
I am classed as vulnerable in general because of age i suppose,

Hang on - just checked the NHS website and it said that people who were formerly classed as "vulnerable" were now classed as "shielded", nothing like public services to change things unnecessarily!

Thanks Soupy - that is exactly the same letter my husband received, so presumably he is "shielded" rather than "vulnerable", although I still do not understand the difference between the two.

My husband had his NHS letter weeks ago - it did not specifically mention either vulnerable or shielded, it said he was at high risk of being hospitalised if he gets the virus. It did say he should stay home for at least 12 weeks, and there are some restrictions on me (not in the vulnerable group) also as I live with him. I am not sure what the difference is to be honest.

Example of Shielded letter as sent to patients in England
www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/at-risk-patient-letter-march-2020.pdf

Daddima - I had a letter. I didn’t know I was “vulnerable” and I’m “just anaemic” too. I need intravenous iron every few weeks, it seems my upper gastric pipes slowly weep blood so they pour it in one arm and when it runs out they do it again. I was enormously shocked by the fact they would send a letter to me, but they have. I’m looking at life differently now, I wish I hadn’t received it.

Really and truthfully it's all about common sense ?

My son has Down's syndrome, autism, low immunity and severe asthma. We did not receive a letter for him, to be quite honest I don't care about receiving a letter for him but mixed messages from health and government is quite confusing for some people, I suppose to some it would just clarify what they can and can't do.

Callistemon, the difficulty is that posters on here have different perceptions of what Sheilding means and the difference between sheilding and vulnerability.
There has been so much conflicting advice.
Advice is being offered, but may not be relevant to a particular country, as Scotland, England and Wales have variations on how to access support.

Added to that, there is the confusion caused by people thinking the general Govt letter to each household is actually a sheilding letter.
It is a generic letter, a sheilding letter is addressed to you personally and has your hospital CHI number on it.

Everyone is vulnerable, where Covid 19 is involved, no-one knows how they will react if they become infected.
However, there are people who are at extremely high risk of severe illness or death with COVID-19, these are the deemed clinically extremely vulnerable, who received sheilding letters. A doctor has to make that decision, whether a hospital consultant or GP.

For example, having a condition like asthma is not a pre-requisite for a sheilding letter, it all depends on the severity of the condition and how it is perceived it will affect you. There is so much needs to be taken into consideration, before that decision can be made.
My three children and granddaughter are asthmatic, one severely, so are vulnerable, but they don't fulfil the criteria for sheilding.

People are bound to be missed, given the numbers involved.
The responsibility then lies with you, the patient to contact your GP or hospital consultant for advice, if you think you have been missed.

People are scared, angry, worried etc and unkindness is definitely spilling on to the threads. There is also a lot of misinformation abounding, that only causes confusion.
We need to support each other, by being kind, respectful and sharing accurate information, which just might make life a little more bearable.

Copied and pasted from the official Government website, Marydoll, as included in the letters that people seem eager to receive for some unfathomable reason.

And very well explained Callistemon.

It's a pity you did it twice, and still people haven't taken time to read your post. ?

Jodie
And anyone else who is

My post of today's date 11:11:41 explains the categories.

Jodie read my post earlier in the thread, it lists them.

Twice.

garnet25 your post really touched my heart. I really feel for your son and family but do think you’ve all come to a good plan regarding his shielding. You read so many posts from people who want to receive the shielding letter for the wrong reason but I suppose it’s human nature to be scared!

Best wishes to you and your family my thoughts go out to you.

What does shielded represent?

I work for a GP, the amount of patients who want the letter in order to get privileges, they want to be 'special'.

I took all this isolation business in a completely different way to so many people on this thread. I am shielding because I have had a disability that means I have been housebound for over 20 years. So my life is "as usual" except that I dont have a carer or cleaner as I have furloughed both and my contribution is to cope for myself for as long as possible.

I thought I was isolating so that I do not land up in hospital where tired and exhausted medical professionals might go on viral over load because of me and die because I am the last straw.

I am 75 and I dont think I need a letter to tell me to keep out of harms way for the sake of the people working their butts off for the NHS.

I feel let down by my usual shopping deliverer just as many people do but there will be a social post mortem when this is all over and we can choose which shops to use in future. We can all use the power of the purse!!!

If anyone has got Iceland near them it is opening slots the day before for delivery.
I would think majority of people are scared because we have heard so much about who is vulnerable.... etc and yet they do not know enough about this virus hence too many are dying all diffrent ages with no underlying illnesses and I think (from an earlier post) to say that they were smokers is ridiculous because if you are key worker the stress must be high. This I believe is the reason alot of people wish that they could fully isolate, I don't think anyone wishes they had any illness but fear is taking over. For me personally my anxiety shoots through the roof when I get on the train for work! We are all in this together and should make the most of what we have. TC

I've just written through contact us, to our online store about getting a priority delivery spot. I have had a reply and awaiting confirmation we can go on priority delivery.

Ours isnt straightforward. Whilst I have multiple medical issues that restrict and affect my life they do not put me in the vulnerable category of the certain diseases.

My one son who is still at home has some very severe mental health issues and is also viral asthmatic.

I don't know if we will get priority or not as it depends on how they are evaluating it.

He has been told to self isolate ifor 12 weeks due to the asthma. Most likely to get it through my son

I'm a little fed up as I did my main shopping online once a month for years. Topping up with milk and the like at the supermarket inbetween.

Now I can't get a spot. It annoyed me more in the beginning as everyone was using them. Now it's only supposed to be priority getting them it's not so bad. Though I presume others will grab spots left inbetween.

I supposed I'm more peeved cos people who never shopped online before in the supermarket are or have been.

I have significant mobility issues along with other conditions. I just count myself lucky I have a decent mobility scooter so I can get out and about easily as I am not able to drive due to a neurological condition.

People who didnt use them before should go back to the supermarkets unless they have a very good reason for not, in an ideal world, which we don't have

Speaking as someone who didn't actually class herself as 'vulnerable' but who received a text first, then a letter, I have been identified as being at risk if I caught the virus. As a result, I have to stay indoors for 12 weeks, and not leave the house for any reason - unless medical. I do have a garden which I am allowed to go into, and I am allowed to open a window. My partner, who does not live with me, brings me shopping every Friday and it's very hard for us both because we usually would see each other every day. I thought he would be classed as vulnerable as he's 70 and has a very serious heart condition. He didn't get the letter. Anyone who wants to be treated as 'vulnerable' when clearly they're not is a sandwich short of a filling if you ask me. I'd love to be able to go out and about instead of stagnating in the house but as a writer (I write a column for the Newsshopper) and I have a website on cats, plus my book is due out soon in paperback, I have plenty to do to keep myself occupied. 12 weeks safe indoors (some people are saying they're 'stuck' indoors) seems a long time but the alternative (i.e. if you catch the virus and die) is even longer. Think about that.

Our Son who is only 45 is on the shielded list, as he has to take immunosuppressants due to having Crohn's. Until his letter came he was working as a Nurse in a very busy hospital, living at home with his wife an administrator at a GP surgery, his 5-year-old daughter, plus since the start of all this his Sister in Law an ICU Nurse and her 3 children. All the children attend school. When the letter came it was decided that he would come here as we have lots of room and it is easy for him to isolate. He does not leave the house, does not mix with us and has his meals separately. As you can imagine that is no live for him, or his wife and daughter who still crys for her Daddy every night.

Such strange times.....

It's such an unknown virus, sadly people dying who we thought wouldn't, and amazingly much much older people surviving.

In 1957 my 2 brothers (7 & 12) and I (8) caught Asian flu. My mother then developed bronchitis. My father looked after us all for 3 weeks with the family doctor calling in regularly.

We all recovered. My father caught nothing.

I've had a couple of letters now, saying that I'm in the 'extremely clinically vulnerable' group and I need to 'shield' myself by not leaving the house for at least 12 weeks. I totally understand why, as I've got an immune deficiency, but I do have a bit of 'cabin fever'. Thankfully, I've got a great hubby who goes shopping and collects meds for me, but I dearly miss cuddles with my baby grandson and a hug from my son. I'll definitely make more of an effort to get out, after the lock down ends. x