Do people want to be ‘vulnerable’?

I am shielded and have The Letter and believe me I'd rather not be included on that list, it is quite scary to read. My sister however who suffers with atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and Parkinson's and takes warfarin has not been sent a letter. None of these conditions are considered high risk.
Nonetheless she is also voluntarily shielding.

Were 2 different letters sent out? i received what seemed like general one to everyone, to keep safe,or i didn't read it properly , but i didn't get a second one
I would be classed as vulnerable probably because of age, but didn't see anything in it that said any different

In truth we are all vulnerable and could die from this virus. I think the government drew an arbitrary line, because they couldn't really afford to have us all shielded at home hoping some fairy godmother might be working in the shops and delivering groceries by magic

annifrance, I understand where you are coming from, isn`t it harsh to respond back to her in a "harsh" manner?

just saying
so what I want to know in all of this furore

is... what is different, about reaching the physical age of 70, then suggests that I am more vulnerable to this virus?

yes, call me a simpleton,,

I am 83, coming on 84,, (good grief! really! duh) that to myself... I have slight high bp, taking medication for years, and like so many take simvastin. I think because of family history...

so why am I grouped up in this vulnerable group? and it has made me more vulnerable all this from whoever... now I am scared to go out, not that I am allowed....

and my mental capacity has deteriorated.. before all of this. I think many people who know me, knew me! would have guessed at my age in my early 70`s.... truly!

now I really feel my age, both physically and mentally

and I suspect there are many more like me

and another thing

I thought "they" were saying there are too many old people, that we are a drain on Government money
and that`s another thing.. STOP SAYING GOVERNMENT MONEY, it is ours,, taxpayers money,, the Government just take it and spend it on our behalf...

if only! o.k I a smiling here,, I do have a strange sense of humour..
well you gorra larf,, innit, whatever..
I know,, it isn`t funny for everyone... before someone jumps on me!

I am glad l am only vulnerable (asthma). I would far rather be non-vulnerable. I am extremely glad l do not qualify for the letter.

It seems the list has changed its name.
This list, originally referred to as the Vulnerable Patient List (VPL), has been renamed the shielded patient list (SPL).
Interesting reading, crimpedhalo. Thank you.

I have mixed feelings after getting, 'the letter' last week. I have known since lock down that I am at high risk and immediately went to my manager to ask if I could be allowed to wear a mask and gloves when dealing with residents (I work for a social care provider as admin but do occasional care shifts in the evenings and weekends because we're so short staffed) . My manager said she would look into it and, according to our company policy, should have done a risk assessment straight away. Nothing was said however, and when I questioned her a few days later, was coldly told that she hadn't had an answer from HO.
When some of our residents began to get, 'the letter' a register was set up of, 'shielded' residents and strict instructions given to staff to wear more PPE when visiting these residents for whatever purpose.
It also came to light that some members of staff had been taking face masks when delivering personal care to residents, usually because they live with, 'shielding' relatives. I was also berated for doing so. I stood my ground and said that I believed I should be in the, 'shielded' group so I intended to continue to wear them. My manager then took me to one side and finally asked me about my health conditions and put a risk assessment in place which basically said I was excused from working closely with any resident showing symptoms and to wear a mask when working closely with anyone else. Two days later I got, 'the letter' and was bundled out of the workplace on furlough with quite indecent haste, not having the opportunity to properly hand over my role or been given a proper furlough letter (it's very vague and has no date). The only people I have ever seen treated this way are those who have left under a cloud after disciplinary action and I don't know whether to feel relieved (I'm not in so much physical danger any more) or scared that I'm going to find myself on SSP and totally unable to cope. Also not sure if I'll have a job to go back to when it's all over and, at my age, with my health conditions, not likely to get another.

There was a general letter sent to every household.
The sheilding letter was sent to individuals and includes your hospital CHI number and your name, blondenanna.

My husband received 'the ' letter early on.
We just wish he wasn't one of that group.
Who in their right mind would want to be?????

What do you mean annifrance for heavens sake stop being so precious, !!! Very smug aren’t you. What a nasty individual you sound,

NoddingGanGan - if you have had the letter (as I have) indicating that you are in an at risk group, then it is clear you should not be at work. Mine tells me quite simply to stay at home for 12 weeks from the date of the letter. You cannot work as a carer from home, so you should be furloughed by your employer.

I beg your pardon, I have just seen that this is what eventually happened - which is entirely corect.

Im vulnerable and thats restrictive enough cant understand anyone wanting to get ‘a letter’.

My friend had one of the letters , but shouldn't have had one and his surgery told him that mistakes had been made and that a letter should not have been sent to him.

Obviously you're not in the group polnan, you're just elderly.
So count yourself lucky.

Take care.

Callistemon, I do, I do..

OK, then, if you fit one of these categories then you should have had a letter.

Solid organ transplant recipients.

People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).

People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).

People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.

Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
People who fall in this group should have been contacted to tell them they are clinically extremely vulnerable.

Still want a letter?
I thought not.

If you are in one of these categories, you should have received a letter:
Otherwise just take care.

Solid organ transplant recipients.

People with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD).

People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell).

People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.

Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
People who fall in this group should have been contacted to tell them they are clinically extremely vulnerable.

sorry, that would not post the first time.

Cannot understand why I got the dreaded letter. Yes I am 75, have had hip replacements, have AMD, osteoarthritis, allergic rhinitis & now hay fever. All these are annoying conditions but nothing like my friend has. She had major heart surgery a couple of years ago but has not had the dreaded letter! Why? How am I in a worse condition than she is? Cannot talk to surgery to find out why I got the letter as they are very busy. Do I have an underlying condition that I do not know about & if I have why have I not been told about it? This is scary enough when I think I will not see my Family for another year if rumours are right. Never go back to my Volunteering that kept me fit & be ‘in prison’ for possibly the rest if my life!

A friend of mine received the 'letter ' only this week and I think was genuinely surprised and shocked to get one. So he is now in the realms of sorting home deliveries but luckily has family nearby who are able to drop shopping off to him. In the meantime he was blithely and blissfully unaware and carrying on with going to the supermarket!
On the other hand we have another friend who is a Hypochondriac with a capital 'H', who is convinced whatever her latest ailment is, she has it in such a severe form she is baffling the experts, and we are sure will have been making complaints to her GP that she hasn't received one. Sigh .....

What a silly remark Ellvanin. Surely you have more respect for yourself than that.

We expected DH to be in the shielded group but it still came as a blow to read the letter when it arrived only to be followed a week or so later by a repeat version. As said above, if it's a' badge of honour' then we'd happily donate.

The only remote letter I have had is the one from House of Commons which I think all households had. I have many conditions but all based to crumbling discs in the back arthritis in knees and hands high blood pressure and wherever else I have the arthritis. I am not 70 so have to go and get shopping which my brother always lifts for me but he does not live with me so we have to social distance and last week only one of us could go into shop. I know of all the high risk groups and I don't want the other letter only it is a struggle for me and I have been unable to get any delivery slots.

I have to admit I thought I was vulnerable, only because my lungs don't work properly, but at first I was disappointed not to get the THE letter, but on reflecting the situation, not getting the letter means my problem isn't that bad and almost manageable, whereas there are a lot of people a heck of a lot worse than myself, and they need that bit extra.