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The List of the clinically extremely vulnerabble

(65 Posts)
Beachwriter Thu 09-Apr-20 10:03:22

Inspite of having Lupus, diabetes and lung disease which requires hydroxychloroquine and immunosuppressive medication, I am not on the government's list. The GP says I should be. But I am not. I feel vulnerable. Other Gransnetters?

Daddima Thu 09-Apr-20 10:09:46

I am on ‘the list’ because of immunosuppressive medication ( Tocilizumab), but didn’t they advise to contact your GP if you felt you should be on the list?
The rheumatologist I see at hospital phoned me to make sure I’d had the letter, and she said they were contacting everyone who was vulnerable.

Teetime Thu 09-Apr-20 10:13:01

I have Lupus and CKD and am not on the list but I'm keeping quiet.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Apr-20 10:13:56

I think that there are more letters going out, as it is recognised that some folk were left off in the first round.

EllanVannin Thu 09-Apr-20 10:20:31

I'm keeping quiet too Teetime but I know I'm a high-risk patient so far as my hospital notes are concerned with both A/Fib and also CKD 3rd stage.

Daddima Thu 09-Apr-20 10:20:40

Is there any benefit to being on it, (apart from getting deliveries from Sainsbury’s, important though that is!)
The letter tells you to self isolate for 12 weeks, but you could do that anyway.

EllanVannin Thu 09-Apr-20 10:23:04

It's just that I don't like to be reminded grin
As my old dad used to say, whatever ailed you " it'll be a pigs foot in the morning " whatever that was about I've never known its origin.

EllanVannin Thu 09-Apr-20 10:25:46

I've socially isolated for nearly 6 weeks never having met a soul, been on a bus or in a taxi-----and I'm getting itchy feet.smile

Katek Thu 09-Apr-20 10:50:57

I’m on the list because of asthma and reduced lung function, however I have not had a single exacerbation in nearly 3 years, have never been hospitalised or needed oxygen. I take a combination inhaler once per day and a prophylactic antibiotic, 1 tablet 3 times per week. I almost feel a little fraudulent being on the list as there are people very much more affected by their conditions than I am. I was actually a bit downhearted when I received THE letter, don’t tend to put myself in the extremely vulnerable category. I then started thinking more logically-there was no time to fine tune the list so a one size fits all policy had to be put in place. I don’t know what the search parameters were, it could be that anyone on a particular drug regime/flu vaccine etc was automatically included and not how well/badly each individual was doing within that regime. There will be people missed out/included so hopefully some of these issues will be addressed this time round. I think Dh should be on the list given his cardiac history and the amount of meds he takes. He’s being very thoughtful though and is staying in with me smile

Pikachu Thu 09-Apr-20 10:59:30

GPS have been asked to identify those who should have been added to the list and were missed off.

Nortsat Thu 09-Apr-20 11:01:34

Beachwriter, do register if you haven’t already, especially if your GP advises you should be on the list.

I registered twice - once before I received the letter advising me I was in the vulnerable group and then again after I received the letter.

I have had a food parcel from the Govt, via my local authority. I have secured priority grocery delivery slots and have had my meds delivered by my pharmacy (without requesting it). I have also had update conversations with my Consultant’s team at Barts Hospital and with the specialist physiotherapy team.
All of this appears to have stemmed from registering on the list.

Good luck and stay safe. ?

Nortsat Thu 09-Apr-20 11:25:40

Another thought Beachwriter, if you should be on the list, you should be shielding and the people in your household need to think carefully about their behaviour.

I am in week 3 of 12 shielding. My partner is isolating very carefully and going out maybe once or twice a week only, so as to protect me.

Marydoll Thu 09-Apr-20 12:02:15

Beachwriter it may be wise to contact your GP to be put on the list.

It's not just about getting delivery slots, it hasn't really helped anyway in my case. It's about being able to access any support you may need.

I'm on the list ( been in for six weeks already, on advice of hospital and GP) and my husband hasn't been out at all, in case he brings anything into the house. We just can't risk it.

EllanVannin Thu 09-Apr-20 12:53:30

As a matter of interest has anyone had a 2nd pneumonia vaccination over the years ?

Daddima Thu 09-Apr-20 13:58:13

I had a letter telling me to make an appointment for a pneumonia jab, but when I got there the nurse told me I’d had one two years ago, so didn’t need another one.
And, how did you register to be on the list? I thought NHS identified you as vulnerable, and you had to contact your GP if you felt you should be on it. I certainly didn’t register .

Teetime Thu 09-Apr-20 14:25:13

DH got the letter today but he doesn't qualify for food deliveries so we are a bit confused. I think he has been included as he doesn't have a spleen and is 74 but its never caused any problems so far. I was hoping we would get a delivery slot.

Grammaretto Thu 09-Apr-20 14:43:17

DH is on the list so 12 weeks shielding. He was isolating before that for a couple of weeks but now I am shielding with him. He has stage 4 kidney cancer.

As Marydoll says it makes not a lot of difference apart from accessing the government food box if you needed it.

We are lucky to still have able bodied friends to shop for us and hope you have too.

The worst for me was trying to get my antibiotics from the chemist when I was suffering from a gum abscess.
and of course not being able to buy and send parcels to my DGC. There were 3 birthdays last weekend.

But these are tiny problems. Join the Lock-down thread. Join the prisoners!

Callistemon Thu 09-Apr-20 14:49:19

We on The Lockdown Thread could get bored, though, and start throwing rotten tomatoes at anyone we see outside breaking the rules.
That is, if we could get hold of any tomatoes. Or eggs.

Beachwriter, I have had The Letter telling me to self-isolate and anyone who lives with me too and today received a letter from the hospital asking me to go to a clinic and then to another hospital a week later, 40 miles away, to collect my medication.
Quite contradictory.

Grammaretto Thu 09-Apr-20 15:00:39

Callistemon grin come to think of it, I have been missing tomatoes.

We felt most vulnerable yesterday driving to the hospital for his scan and noticing how many people were probably breaking the rules.

Marydoll Thu 09-Apr-20 15:02:34

Teetime, if you are in England, at least the supermarkets are given the list of vulnerable people by the Govt., so it should be easier to access vulnerable people slots.

However, in Scotland, you need to register with each supermarket individually. After waiting for over 40 minutes each time to register, I just gave up!
Not heard a word from my loca!l authority either.

Thank goodness, I have family and good neighbours to help. Not heard a word from anyone.

Iam64 Thu 09-Apr-20 15:32:38

I thought I was 'vulnerable' as I'm on immune suppressant biological treatment for RA. I have AF and stage 3 chronic kidney disease and I'm over 70. According to the government web site, subsequently confirmed by my specialist nurse at Rheumatology, I only scored 2 (over 70 and biologics). The AF isn't a serious heart condition and to qualify, chronic kidney disease has to be stage 4. I'm relieved not to qualify , even using the word 'vulnerable ' made me feel vulnerable and I did not appreciate that,
However- I wish I could get on line shopping. We try to keep actual shop visiting to a minimum because otherwise, we don't mix with anyone. On our daily walk, we keep the required distance. Still these are unprecedented times and we can't all have our essentials delivered.

Daddima Thu 09-Apr-20 17:18:14

Marydoll, I’d given up on Sainsbury’s, but got another number ( 0800 052 5500) from Fernbergien on here. Despite the ‘ lines very busy’ message, it was answered in two minutes. I was asked if I’d had ‘ the letter’, my date of birth (1952), and a previous order number. She said it might take a couple of days to process, but after a couple of hours there were slots available for the next day. Mind you, some of them were £6/£6.50, which I’ve never seen before.

And this is the list of vulnerables from Gov.uk.

morethan2 Thu 09-Apr-20 17:49:54

Yesterday my son had an email from Tesco saying he was entitled to a priority food delivery. He received the delivery today. It’s such a load off our minds because there’s been nothing from any of the agencies up until now. His wife is at the end of her terminal illness is blind and bedridden and he’s trying to keep her, himself and their three children fed. The plus side is It’ll mean less trips to the supermarkets for me. I’m relieved to know that the wheels for helping the most vulnerable in society are starting to turn. To be fair although it feels as if this as been going on for an age it’s less than three weeks. I hope those of you in a similar vulnerable position are contacted soon.

Grammaretto Thu 09-Apr-20 18:05:39

Bitter sweet news for you morethan2 flowers

Callistemon Thu 09-Apr-20 18:22:13

My letter was from the Welsh Government and I just received an email from Tesco to say that I am entitled to a delivery slot.
At last.
However, I do know other people, in England, who have not heard anything despite having health problems and being over 70.