If Old and Vulnerable are prioritised...

[NotVulnerableStillHungry]

...what the fuck is everyone else supposed to do?

Ocado - prioritising elderly and vulnerable
Waitrose - prioritising elderly and vulnerable
Sainsburys - prioritising elderly and vulnerable
Iceland - prioritising elderly and vulnerable
Morrisons - can't tell as 19014 in the queue trying to get in.

Prioritising the elderly and vulnerable is great, obviously, but it doesn't actually work if you don't have capacity to serve anyone else. Because then it's not prioritising! It's saying "We will not serve you if you are not elderly or vulnerable".

And surprise, surprise, people who aren't vulnerable still need to eat.

So I cannot get anything from any supermarket either delivered or to collect (and I've expanded my search area to 8 miles from my house, nothing). And my local co-op is stripped bare of literally everything except milk, chocolate biscuits and aunt Bessie's frozen yorkshire puds. What good is that, to anyone?

I'm 'vulnerable 'for several listed reasons. Still can't get a delivery from ANY supermarket, from Iceland through to Waitrose. It's hopeless.

OP you're already lucky enough to have milk& fruit delivered

I agree with you, what they are doing is not prioritising, essentially saying you won’t get a slot. They need to word this differently, saying only elderly and vulnerable are eligible for delivery.

I did hear in the news the other day they are saying to younger people don’t go shopping as much & what you have make it last. So we can’t get a delivery & they don’t want us going to the shops. What do they expect us to do?

I do agree though that online should be for elderly & vulnerable as they shouldn’t be leaving the house right now. I think the problem is most of the slots already taken are not elderly or vulnerable

They want you to go to the shops less, so if you can instead of going every day for that days food then go and buy a weeks worth meaning you don’t need to go again.

No one elderly in my family would do online shopping anyway - apparently it’s ‘going to steal all their money’. So don’t know who’s using these slots

I think it's interesting that almost many people think they should be a priority, when actually they just need to do a bit of lateral thinking. I know of 3 people who really are vulnerable: one with stage 4 cancer, one who's physically disabled & very asthmatic, and a third person elderly with severe lung problems. None of them can get a slot, and frankly they should be able to.

The OP is fit, young healthy. She just needs to think a bit about taking sensible precautions. For example:

with a toddler touching all and sundry doesn't seem very compliant either

If you & your child are symptom-free than you can take some sensible precautions. Most public transport is now pretty empty.

Put toddler in a pram, and with gloves?

Wash hands with ordinary bar soap. A lot. Just before you and your toddler leave the house & immediately you get back. First thing before anything else. If you're worried about viral traces on clothes change your child on returning home and wash all clothes at 60 degrees

Maybe get buses to a big supermarket & then a taxi home. Might give you a better sense of control.

Use local independent shops. Keep them in business.

anti bac soap

It may just be a turn of phrase, written on the run, but I worry when people think an anti-bacterial will guard against a virus. Best things are simple: soap & hot water, and dilute bleach ...

So you have a child that doesn’t make you special.

Couldn't agree more. Waited 2 1/2 weeks for last tesco delivery, 40% of which wasn't in stock/substituted on day of delivery. We therefore ate through what we got quite quickly (family of 5). We are now a couple of days into 14 day isolation but can't get a delivery slot with either Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado or Iceland for 3 weeks!! and amazon fresh don't deliver to my postcode. I'll just tell my kids to live off thin air for the next 21 days then..... RIDICULOUS, how many of those slots have gone to people who just don't want to risk going to the supermarket rather than becuase they are isolating and literally cant!!

@flockofgulls
Exactly. I know people who are complaining they can’t get slots even though they have diet controlled mild type 2 diabetes, have a blue inhaler because they had a tight chest a few years ago (not asthmatic, but self diagnosed asthma), have a mildly arthritic joint. Not actual rheumatoid arthritis or anything. I think people are certain buzz words and are like ‘OH MY GOD I am at extra risk!’

My type 1 diabetic friend has actually been told over the phone by her consultant that she shouldn’t worry too much, as she’s very fit and well controlled so she shouldn’t really be at any more risk than the average person. So she’s just being careful like everyone else is. She has friends doing emotional monologues to camera for Facebook about how hard it is to stay in for 12 weeks etc

I only know one person who’s actually received a ‘shielding letter’ and they’re receiving immunotherapy for cancer .

I'm over 70. I haven't even attempted to get a delivery slot so went to the supermarket at usual, social distancing was very well organised thankfully, and the staff were brilliant.

I'm lucky, in the town one of my DDs lives the supermarkets seem to be pretty much a free for all.

However, I had to pick up a prescription from Boots, and had to queue for over 1.5 hours in the street with no system in place for social distancing - so much for over 70s not going out. Fortunately, the people in my town are all being very sensible about keeping their distance.

Lots of new delivery food box companies are popping up in London if you look around op, some from companies that used to supply offices and the restaurant industry. the New Covent Garden market website has a list of ones that are buying their produce, and there are many others. I found some local ones recommended on my local fb page.
Cleaning products, nappies etc can probably be found on amazon.
If you can get fresh stuff elsewhere, you can reduce how much you need from the supermarket.
Do you know anyone who has a weekly ocado shop? So far they are letting customers keep their regular weekly slots, so a friend may agree to order things for you?

@FuzzyPuffling have you registered online? The Gov should be sending you a box, and also your local authority should have a system in place by now.

My local authority is able to sort prescriptions etc for people.

I don’t think they are getting priority for shopping slots etc. How do I go about getting this service because we are shielding our daughter and if I can’t get a slot we will be screwed. I’m sensible though and I’ve booked the next four weeks of shopping.

I'm on the shielding list and I can't get a slot with anyone. All the supermarkets are posting their nice fluffy messages and adverts about how wonderful they are prioritising the extremely vulnerable.

In reality, I registered on the governments list of extremely vulnerable people last Tuesday. They are sitting on this information and haven't passed it onto the supermarkets. I have online accounts with several of them but they all say I have to wait until the government tell them I am to be given priority access.

I'm a single parent and I didn't stock pile. We were running low on food but got a food parcel delivered yesterday. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when that runs out.

Only on mumsnet does the majority believe that everyone has a car and/or can afford to pay cornershop prices for an entire shop.

OP see if there are other local companies delivering. Our local butcher is delivering and teamed up with a bakery. It is more expensive than the supermarkets but cheaper than the local shop for far better quality. There is a waiting list here but fruit and veg boxes are a life saver.

My oh has the shielding letter, I cant get a delivery, got a click and collect booked for 14th I was awake till 5am worrying about how to feed us, I really dont want to go out but looks like I will have too, I feel like every time I go out I'm putting my life(on the vulnerable list myself but not shielded) at risk

Go to the shop like everyone else. Lots of people can't do online ordering as they don't have a proper card etc or whatever- for years the bank would only give me a card that let me take money out of an ATM. That's how a fair few people in povery and/or with disabilities live.

Maybe a few of the main shops sometimes run out of stuff (though most people can get most of what they want) but I find that the local corner shop tends to be more well stocked. They even have loo roll fairly often.

and/or can afford to pay cornershop prices for an entire shop

@SonjaMorgan I have a disability and have never been able to work. I find the corner shop prices aren't as expensive as people expect, plus there's no alternative as I can't get around easily.

To those that asked (thank you), DH has registered on line, we've heard nothing from anyone. There doesn't seem to be a timescale for the food box (and I suspect we'd be right at the end of the line, living miles from anywhere) and no information on what else can be offered. It's all done with the absolute best of intentions, but the planning and communication is a bit lacking! (I don't suppose I could have done it any better so I'm not complaining, just saying!)

I contacted our local volunteer (new set up) and she had no idea what she was supposed to be doing!

People in our village are lovely and helping as much as they can, but it's a pint of milk here and there, rather than a full shop which is needed after 3 weeks at home.

@SonjaMorgan you talk about affordability, in London the deliveries from 'local companies' are all a few pints of milk, few bananas and potatoes, that'll be 40 pounds please.

Prioritising makes sense, but the people on the government's list are those vulnerable specifically to the virus. It wouldn't include for example someone physically unable to get to the shop or to sick too go there. We need a more comprehensive list.

@pukkatea I don't live in London but was trying to think of some other options for the OP. I imagine in some areas in is impossible and as always the poorer members of society will suffer the most.

Actually OP I've been exactly the same as you. I always always get my shopping delivered. I am also suffering from major anxiety and refuse to go to any public place at the moment. We managed to get a delivery slot two weeks ago and got enough food to make up and freeze in tiny batches portions. I feel like supermarkets should've clubbed together. 2 or 3 service JUST elderly and those who have underlying conditions the other serve is 'fit and healthy' folk. Unfortunately this disease does not discriminate and an increasing number of fit people are dying 🤷🏼‍♀️

@FuzzyPuffling I just went on Facebook and asked on the local page if someone would get them groceries - loads of volunteers!