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!

@CrapTVAddict - if your mum has any of those conditions listed above you can register on gov.uk

Thank you I didn't know about this scheme and it will help my mum

I’m so angry, anxious and honestly petrified. Covid-19 will kill people in these groups and as we’re in those groups there should be the support and there just isn’t.

I know. It’s shit. There people are working their arse of to identify these people in local communities to get the support to them. But it’s hard.

And it’s very difficult to win against the Ocado Amazon Smart Pass crowd.

If you are part of the high risk group you would be notified by the 29th March. They started notifying people on the 23rd March.

If you aren’t in the high risk group but are vulnerable, then it’s not quite the same. Basically vulnerable people are also advised to protect themselves and get others to shop for them. It there isn’t the same level of lockdown on those people.

We’re not even supposed to step out of the front door. Not for exercise. Not for anything. Advised to open a window instead

I’m sorry but people in the high risk category should be differentiated as there’s such a high risk of death.

And yet there is absolutely support for this group from what I’ve experienced

Some who fall into the ‘extremely vulnerable’ group haven’t in fact received their letter, and it needs to be chased up.

Anyone who wants to volunteer, some info here.

www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/27/coronavirus-and-volunteering-how-can-i-help-in-the-uk

I'd keep those slots. I have 2 dc with asc and I'm so glad that we moved from a village a 20 minute drive from the nearest supermarket to a 20 minute walk to a retail park with 2 supermarkets.

I have a sainsburys delivery pass and I'm not allowed to use it, yet I've seen nothing about the term of the pass being extended once things are back to normal, even though the big supermarkets are pretty much the only businesses cleaning up, right now. In contrast, next are just freezing everything and picking up where they left off, when (if) they can.

@tatianabis - I do believe there are still people waiting to be notified however I know several people in the high risk group and they’ve all been notified, which is good news.

However, none have yet been able to access support, in fact a specific group have been refused help by a certain supermarket. Despite those people having an illness highlighted within the list.

It’s beyond infuriating.

Just to add, I don't mind not being allowed to use it but their attitude is pretty much tough shit and, no, I have yet to see any click and collect slots.

I had a text to say I was in the shielded group and that I will get a letter, which i havent yet had. But no daily texts.

This is going to go on for a long time op. Keep the slots but make a backup plan for when/ if one or more of them are cancelled. I think most delivery slots form supermarkets will be stopped soon unless you are on the vulnerable list.
Start looking for.other food suppliers locally who can replace some of this. Do it soon as once the deliveries stop, everyone will be doing it and local businesses won't be able.to take on new customers as they will be overwhelmed with orders. Hopefully they will keep delivering to propel already on their books

Also start to be a bit wiser about what you tell people about your situation. I would not admit to having enough food or a reasonable delivery plan at the moment as there are too many people who are desperate which leads to anger and can get ugly

Oh I’ve had one a day - each with ‘helpful hints’. You’re honestly not missing much though - the second gave us the link to register as vulnerable. The third told us to have a hospital bag packed ‘just in case’ and told us to eat/sleep separately and no physical contact with each other. Yesterday’s were tips to keep healthy (eat well, exercise at home) and be kind to yourself, today’s was advice on keeping in touch with friends and family via text/calls etc.

We’ve had our letters but I know some people haven’t had their letters yet. I think the letters are taking longer to roll out, but everyone I know who is on the list has had a text.

Sorry my post referred to texts we’ve been getting while classed as vulnerable/shielded

Thanks

This is the official Vulnerable categories at risk from Covid-19. This is from the Gov.uk website

No mention of Autism.

I don't mean any disrespect by the way, I have no child with autism who has exactly the same eating issues as your child.

I just think it's worth pointing out that this is the official vulnerable list

@mamapants No it isn't

Yanbu at all but don't tell anyone IRL. I think bumblingbovine's advice is excellent.

I am a long time pass holder. I am in the at risk group. I live with my husband who is healthy and can drive. We are still able to get a weekly slot so far and while I can book them I will take them. Yes we could get to the local shop but every trip exposes me to potential infection that could threaten my life, even if my husband goes its the same issue.

I'm sure there are others who are more deserving than me but who can I know who gets my slot if I give it up? Lots of healthy people have jumped on the online food shopping since coronavirus when they never bothered before, be annoyed at them not the loyal pass holders, without them the service wouldn't exist.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

That’s all the main info. The rest of it stuff like washing vegetables and keeping a hospital bag packed and ready to go. The important part of that advice is to have some of your ‘key health information’ packed.

I’ve photocopied all my daughters discharge notes from the past year (5 admissions) and put them in a folder.

I don’t see how the vulnerable person delivery slots will work for people like me, my daughter is 8, she doesn’t have a online shopping account, that’s in my name!

When the supermarkets run their checks, we won’t get a match. Suspect that will be the same for a number of other extremely vulnerable people too, not just paediatric patients!

I can’t see the supermarkets only delivering to vulnerable. Those who have the symptoms of the virus and can’t leave the house for two weeks because they are self isolating need it just as much to stop them from leaving their houses and infecting hundreds of others .

Me and my partner have serious underlying health conditions.

We have a booked click and collect for two weeks in a row.
With only 80 items at any one time.
They are both needed

Elderly single person 80+ lives alone with some ongoing health conditions. Currently staying indoors.

I live 100s of miles away

No delivery slots available

They are running out of food

Suggestions...

Who/how makes the choice about who is vulnerable ?

Just don't ask questions like this on MN. The MN stasi and their competitive lockdown-ing jus rub their hands with glee.

Keep them Op, sounds like you need them. But don't discuss this with anyone else, it's none of their business.