Letter from the government to people on the vulnerable list.

[ALongHardWinter]

A good friend of mine seemed rather surprised that I didn't receive one! In all honesty,it never even crossed my mind that I would. I AM registered disabled (I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis in multiple joints and have mobility problems),but I don't suffer from diabetes,COPD,asthma,heart problems,or any of the other conditions listed.
I admittedly do struggle with shopping,especially as I don't drive. But I'm not vulnerable in the sense that I am at higher risk of having complications or dying if I caught the virus.

What I am trying to say is,I think of myself as 'disadvantaged' rather than 'vulnerable'. Am I right to be surprised that she thought I would be receiving this letter?

@iVampire yes, I thought that too. He’s very fit and healthy, only recently been diagnosed. He doesn’t think he needs to be shielded, and the fact that he hasn’t received a letter is proof of this to him. He is abiding by all the lockdown rules, but is going out for a daily walk or bike ride, his parter is still going out to work, he goes to the supermarket etc

I think a lot of people are confusing vulnerable people with the extremely vulnerable shielding category who received an official letter.
The vulnerable category is huge and includes people with a BMI over 40, how’s the government supposed to know that?

A friend has had two serious heart attacks and he didn't get a letter. He'shappy but it also being sensible and is strictly following the guidelines to minimize risk, which is not his normal behaviour (ie he'd usually be the first down the pub if they were open).

I had a letter to say I'm vulnerable because of my age. I have no other conditions. However, a couple of days later, I was offered slots for Waitrose.

Here, the practice have had clinicians reviewing clinical records. We've found some of the letters issued centrally, not sure if central NHS had any clinical involvement beyond programmed searches of records as we've seen they have been wrong both ways (sent when not warranted and some patients missed) so all patients are being reviewed by the practice here. If someone has concerns, they may receive a follow up letter from their own practice if they've been missed out by the central exercise but they can call and discuss. I expect there'll be a mix of those genuinely missing from the central exercise and some who don't fall within the criteria but they or their families think they should have so a call might measure either way though primary is stretched here so might take some time to get a call back.

I have no spleen so knew I would be on the vulnerable list and have been wfh since early March and not going out since mid March.
I received a text on Monday nearly 2 weeks ago followed by a letter , then another letter from Dept for Social affairs and communities. Followed by multiple texts , followed by a government food parcel yesterday..

This morning I have been offered food delivery spots by 3 different supermarkets. All this despite saying on the Gov website that I have DC at home who can drive and shop for me when we need it.. and also - I didn't think no spleen was 'extremely vulnerable' ..

Would I be unreasonable to ask DC to drop Govt food box into the food bank who are struggling? and to use one of the food delivery spots for elderly very poorly neighbour who lives alone and hasn't got a letter, only children who live about 40 miles away and are driving backwards and forwards to make sure mum is safe ?

This morning I have been offered food delivery spots by 3 different supermarkets

In the post or by email and how quickly did you sign up to the register please?

@Coldilox - re CLL. The person I know with CLL has got a letter. They have had chemo a few years ago, but are in remission/watch and wait phase now.

It says on gov website though that it is blood cancer (which CLL is) at ANY stage of treatment. I believe this includes watch and wait, even before you have needed any treatment.

Took a long time for letter to arrive. Chased it up by calling GP who denied all knowledge and then called Haemo dept/ consultant at the hospital who reassured that they were doing the letters. Got it a few days later.

So call the consultant not the GP.

My mum got a letter related to her cancer treatment. My father in law didn’t until he questioned it - he has a chronic neuro condition and takes azathioprine among other hardcore meds. He is told to shield even ordinarily around colds, etc, as they can kill him. As soon as his practice realised he had been missed they confirmed with an email letter same day, with hard copy to follow.

Thank you, everyone. I will make sure that dad chases this up.

It's CLL that he has. He's had it for about 7 years and has to be careful all the time, but especially just now.

SauvignonBlanche I did wonder if she thought I would get one because I'm fat of my BMI. I checked it and I just scraped in at 38.5 (it stated 40 and over for being a risk). But as you said,how the hell are they going to know what people's BMI is?!

I have hodgkin's lymphoma so am on the shielding list but still haven't received a letter or as any texts. I had read that not all letters had been sent yet. I'm wondering if they are doing it alphabetically and my surname starts with V so I will be one of the last

I had mine back in March and was told to self-isolate for 12 weeks.

They really ought to use different terminology, ‘vulnerable’ and then ‘extremely vulnerable’ is just confusing already-stressed people.

I got my letter only today so I'm sure some are still en route. I am having cancer treatment. I don't need the free food boxes the govt are offering, I can get by on what I have for now with the neighbours fetching me milk and bread now and then but will eventually need a 'big' shop so priority access to online delivery slots would be amazing.

@coldilox
A relative of mine has CLL and received a shielding letter.
Diagnosed a couple of years ago, is being monitored but hasnt needed any treatment so far