To not give up my delivery slots..

[Shootingstar2918]

Hi all, background... I am not vulnerable and I am fit and healthy and able to go shopping but it’s extremely difficult. I have two children with autism and my partner has to work. I live 12 miles away from the nearest large supermarket. The village shop doesn’t sell much.

I get my shopping delivered every week without fail at the same time every week. I always book slots in advance particularly at usual peak times - Christmas, Easter, summer holidays.

My partner still has to work long hours so not as easy as one of us getting to the shop. By the time he finishes this week the shops are shut. They don’t open late here.

I have two shops booked. One for next week and another for the week after.

Been told I’m selfish for not leaving them for the vulnerable?

I booked these 2 weeks ago! When Tesco released easter bank holiday priority slots for delivery savers!

Surely I should keep my slots and not be made to feel guilty?

I know I’ll probably have to shop in store after these 2 slots!

This is why supermarkets are supposed to be moving to prioritising the shielded group. Because everyone thinks their circumstance makes them eligible to be counted as vulnerable.
Whereas the shielded group are people with a high chance of dying if they catch covoid 19. So truly vulnerable in this situation.

And no, not everywhere has a volunteer group doing food deliveries to the vulnerable.

I have said this already on here and will say it again. Learning difficulties is listed as an at risk group. So one of her sons is at greater risk if he catches it, and both are at greater risk of catching it spreading it as they do not understand social distancing.

Taking autistic children shopping isn't just a case of being a bit annoying anyway. And the OP has also explained that her husband is in fact working the hours the supermarkets are opened.

She should definitely keep her slots.

Ds is autistic and there is no way I could take him to a supermarket.

Stop the guilt tripping of the op. Even if she gave up her slots, who's to say it would go to a more 'worthy' person?

I'm keeping my slot, we are all able bodied and no obstacles to getting shopping.

Why am I selfishly keeping slot?

1. It's better than going to the shops, I live in a very busy London suburb, there are SO many people on the high street and in shops.

1. We waited to see how many slots opened up, there were several a day so we felt there were plenty for all.

1. Am part of street group which volunteers shop for elderly or vulnerable neighbours (I know pretty much everyone is doing this and it's nothing to crow about, my point is if they are unable to get delivery slots, I can take them food, no one round here is going to go without).

I'm not talking about you specifically here OP but as a country, we need to get out of the mindset that shopping delivery is a convenience. Right now it isn't, it's a life-saving service.

And just as most of us wouldn't call an ambulance if we didn't need one, we shouldn't be using delivery slots either, just because that's what we've always done.

The 'its better than going to the shops' mindset is what I mean.

If it was likely that my slot would go to a vulnerable person, of course I'd give it up. But given there are often online queues if literally a quarter of a million trying to get into the website, it's likely to be a couple of a family etc.

I think the supermarkets should be reserving slots for those they need them, with a percentage to the rest of us if there is space.

Giving up a slot and hoping that a vulnerable person will be able to get it is like dropping a £50 note in the pavement hoping that a person in need will get it. Chances are it'll go to someone else, and there are better ways to target the vulnerable.

What are the better ways to target the vulnerable @Babyboomtastic?

I'm getting pretty sick of people saying you're selfish if you dare to get an online delivery.

With the exception of Sainsbury's and I think Iceland, everywhere else is a free-for-all. If I give up my booked slots there's no guarantee they'll end up being used for someone more vulnerable than me.

If people are lucky enough to get a slot then they should keep it - the more people who can stay out of the shops the better!

I'm getting pretty sick of my elderly parents not being able to get any food adeline.

me too cylmene. MIL rang in tears last night because she had such a difficult time trying to food shop yesterday. She’s 80. There are no volunteer groups & we are miles away. It’s bloody rubbish.

How would a Supermarkt know if you are vulnerable? And if the government shared any such informal with a private company that would be very illegal. You know data protection and all that!

I'm getting pretty sick of my elderly parents not being able to get any food Adeline.

And if I gave up my slot, how would that help them? There's no guarantee that people giving up their slots would mean they go to those who are vulnerable or isolating.

I appreciate it's difficult but you can't really blame those who were lucky enough to get slots. Tesco has no scheme to prioritise those who are vulnerable.

poster syskywalker Mon 30-Mar-20 11:19:04
How would a Supermarkt know if you are vulnerable? And if the government shared any such informal with a private company that would be very illegal. You know data protection and all that!

Everyone who received an ‘extremely vulnerable person’ letter has been invited to join a register that will be shared with supermarkets.
It’s optional, but only open to those who have been pre identified by the NHS to have certain conditions.

The emergency parliamentary bill passed last week temporarily changed a whole load of laws around data sharing anyway, but in this particular instance, the existing laws have been followed,

The shielded group here are being delivered food parcels, and local businesses are bending over backwards to do home deliveries for those with a letter, and rightly so. But this means that the vulnerable are excluded from those provisions, and cannot access them; they should be able to book online deliveries. There are also those who are meant to be self isolating and have no one to help grab some shopping (here volunteers are only delivering to specific groups, which doesn't include those isolating), who need to eat. I actually think those are the ones who will suffer the most, government provisions for some who are also given priority delivery slots as well, and then other people apparently aren't allowed a home delivery and can't get out or get any help, so can't get any food. I have an online shop coming for my siblings and parents, I don't feel bad about it. I don't have a car so can't get to a supermarket, they are vulnerable, and there isn't the support infrastructure here to help them, so it will come here and I will walk it to them and leave on their doorsteps, they have no other way of getting any. No one really knows people's circumstances, of course if you can go shopping then you absolutely should.

There are loads of ways to ensure that deliveries go to the elderly (the vulnerable list has already been mentioned.). Delivery could be contingent of the customer flashing (through a window, or leaving on the doorstep - no contact required) some I
ID, either showing age, or that they are in the category -perhaps a bus pass. Or if they don't she is, they can just show their own face at the window. It's not perfect, and would require delivery drivers to be the gatekeeper,but if customers are told of this before they book a slot, then it could work?

Or probably a hundred other methods that would involve technology, information sharing etc.

The shielded group here are being delivered food parcels

Depends on the circumstances. You fill out your specific circumstances on the opt-in EVP register.

An emergency food parcel for one person won’t work if the vulnerable person needs 24 hour care from someone else (so cannot be left while their carer shops for their own food) or if they have a restricted diet, such as allergies (common in the in-born immune deficiency group).

Totally agree that the vulnerable group need support options too, but it isn’t as simple as 1.5 million people get a standard food package and the next most vulnerable group get to shop online. A standard parcel would actually be better for some pensioners than a delivery slot (eg due to lack of internet access).

I have been wondering about this, this morning - I can log onto Sainsburys and book deliveries. I mean obviously slots are limited but its not an issue. Are you saying that is unusual? I feel I am doing something wrong but not sure how. Last week others in my street were getting deliveries too but I am scared to mention it to them now!

It might be an area issue Dishing - I've just checked and there is nothing for either delivery or click and collect for the next 3 weeks (which is as far as it goes)

We have a delivery pass for one of the big supermarkets. So far we have been able to get either a home delivery or click and collect each week. I think some are released to pass holders once the vulnerable are taken care of. I'm in an at risk but not very vulnerable group so I don't feel bad. My husband is normally having to do a top up shop once a week for fresh things which won't last a full week i.e salad, bread and greens. I am only going out for daily walks away from others and for medical reasons.

I think that might be an explanation @emilydark - sounds like we are in a similar position. Although @SchadenfreudePersonified's explanation could be coming into it as well.

Don't feel quite such a fraud now.

@DishingOutDone. yeah don't feel a fraud if they are free to book then book them, when I see slots on my account there are normally a few. No point in saying to others as it might annoy them but then people will see the delivery van so will know anyway. If the reason is that you have a pass and they don't then thats your privilege for buying a pass. I know sainsburys are making the elderly and vulnerable a priority so it they sill needed the slots I'd not be able to get one.

It probably does vary across the UK so if someone else is struggling to book a delivery then demand will be higher there.

I have delivery pass with Ocado and can’t even get a slot at all, yet they still took my money.I agree keep slot maybe add to it if someone elderly is near.

I'm the same with Sainsbury clarehhh

I've paid for delivery up front for year - I think one slot a fortnight wouldn't come amiss! Particularly as DH and I both come into the elderly and vulnerable categories. I don't know what their criteria are - supposedly they have been in touch with doctors etc, but you certainly can't get through to speak to them and e-mails are ignored.

And then they have the gall to send me details of all their special offers, extra points etc that I can't take advantage of - bastards!