Shielding chat continues - thread 2

[AuntieSocia1]

Shiny new thread for anyone shielding.

You can vent/moan/cry/chat/lurk whatever you need.

I say addressed; I mean that the health secretary is being asked what's going on - not that there will necessarily be an answer...

Ok; the answer was one sentence - we will get news 'shortly'

And they had to correct the English three times on the news banner. Picky, but I'm in that kind of mood today!

Hi All - be grateful for some advice please.

I was discharged from hospital back in March after a transplant and the hospital social worker referred me to the Royal Voluntary service as I live alone. had no support and needed to shield. I had one phone call when they said that they would arrange for me to be allocated a volunteer who would ring me weekly to make sure I was OK and whether I needed anything doing.

I agreed because I thought that this volunteer would be local to me and would perhaps become a new friend and be able to help if I could not get to the chemist (as an example) . I now have a weekly phone call from a 22 year old who lives about 70 miles away, She is lovely and takes her phone call to me very seriously as I have been the only person she has been asked to contact. Its just that we have nothing at all in common - I am 62 years old.

I really want to stop these phone calls, we have nothing at all to talk about but I dont want to make her feel that she is doing anything wrong - what on earth can I say to her ?

I would offer a white lie and say you've been on an online local group where you've been matched up with someone local according to age, etc. Thank her lots and lots for her lovely calls and being so caring and reassure her how much they have helped but that she is able to move on to her next shieldee as you no longer need the extra support.

ceecee32. Are you getting the support that you need to pick up prescriptions etc? If not maybe you could contact the RVS and ask if they know of any local help. Alternatively contact them (not the volunteer) and say you have support now, how friendly she has been and suggest that she is re-allocated.
I’m not sure what to suggest if they say she’s happy to carry on/they have plenty of volunteers.

@Redcherries and @Lockdown Thanks very much for both your very simple great ideas. I was overthinking things and both answers are perfect. Off to try to find someone at the RVS to speak to.

Have you seen this - apparently they will tell us more shortly, whatever that means. Looks like shielding won't necessarily end in July but will depend on your situation.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53064372

My consultant just rang, I said I'd heard it was stopping in July and he said he didn't think so, but could only advise me to keep taking government guidance and shield carefully as covid still around although he did say the numbers were much better. So no wiser really, but he was very kind to me and said he knew it was really tough on me.

Wow. The primary school teacher on that bbc news video says it perfectly. This is what the media need to be showing more of. Maybe we’d be understood a bit more.
I don’t know if I can bear to watch the briefing today. I’ll be devastated if there’s no clarification. The not knowing is awful.

There was an article in the Times that had a spokesperson from Age Uk too. It’s really frustrating not to have any information and for the general impression to be that all shielders are old.

The sun is speculating that todays briefing will be the sports minister who will talk about the premier league restarting today, this may not be true but please don't raise your hopes just in case xx

@ceecee32 You weren't over thinking it, you were being nice and worrying about her feelings, thats considerate not over thinking x

BBC saying it’s the culture secretary doing the briefing with no scientists or medical experts. And it’s going to be about the football.
Stand down everyone.

Yes because football is priority, obvs

FFS !!!!!

I'd just like to say I HATE FOOTBALL.
There that feels better.

As long as we can have a bunch of overpaid ninnies kicking a ball about and their shouty, beery fans are happy, who cares about 2million people who are worried about every aspect of their lives.

(Ok I may have used a couple of stereotypes there but I'm fed up! And I HATE FOOTBALL. Did I say that?)

It’s so FRUSTRATING just TELL US! Update the forgotten!

Actually I think the Govt have had to rethink sacking us all off in July because of the leak and the backlash. Maybe they are crapping it now..."Oh no, the shielded are actually a bunch of literate, articulate and angry people, not a few old biddies with no access to the internet (who are going to die very soon anyway). Best rethink it......Oliver - go and witter on about footie tonight"

The press are obviously briefed on exactly what questions to ask, that’s why every week they ask the same questions over and over again!

Painting a fucking aeroplane!!!!! How is this important?

Toilets in Royal Parks. yes...of enormous interest to all of us. Who is the Minister for Shit?

You could be right @FuzzyPuffling but I’m wondering if the delay is something to do with us either being contacted by NHS directly, which is what Matt Hancock was stating this morning, or they’re having a list cull? Maybe?

Then one of them will glide towards the helm tomorrow to face the onslaught.

I think we might know tomorrow!

And if I here road map once more......