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Original poster

Getting on the vulnerable list

73 replies

Kitten9 · 16/04/2020 09:49

I’ve seen a few people posting that they haven’t been able to get on the vulnerable list for priority delivery slots etc. MIL is highly vulnerable and was having difficulty registering at the start of all this, so we ended up emailing her local MP who was incredibly helpful in pushing her case through. It turned out that her medical records hadn’t been updated correctly - they listed her as not having hypertension when she clearly does. Once we got that sorted she was added to the list and now has absolutely no issues with getting a delivery slot, which is such a relief!

Posting here in case it can help anyone else. Sending (socially-distanced!) hugs to you all!

OP posts:
Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 09:55

You didn't need to have done any of that

Just go onto the government website and if you meet the extremely vulnerable criteria you can register yourself, it takes abut 7 days before you are contacted by Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda (and Ocado if you are a customer)

www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:02

To add:

You need your NHS number but extremely vulnerable people are likely to have appointments of letters with that on.

To get access to deliveries you need to say that you need help to get food. You may end up also receiving a government food box (they take 2-3 weeks after registering which is poor if someone really needs it). When the box comes there is an invoice slip- you can phone the contractor and ask not to receive any more. I couldn't find a way to stop them before delivery.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:04

I have registered about 10 people now- some had received the government letter and others hadn't. All met the extremely vulnerable criteria.

The outcome was the same whether they had received the letter or not. You dont receive any acknowledgement. The first indication it has worked is typically Tesco emailing to offer a delivery slot with the rest a few days behind.

Queenie8 · 16/04/2020 10:13

I'm on the extremely vulnerable group. I registered ten days ago and have not heard anything from the supermarkets.

I'm currently using amazon prime now for shopping, but getting a delivery slot is fairly difficult and I have received only 50% of the shopping I've ordered due to stock shortages.

Does the email just arrive out of the blue?

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:23

I'm on the extremely vulnerable group. I registered ten days ago and have not heard anything from the supermarkets.

Did you say that you needed help getting food? You have to tick that box or you dont get put on the list.

It has been 7 days from ticking that box for almost everyone I have helped.

Yes they came out of the blue. For those that already had an account with Ocado they could see when they logged in about 4 days before Ocado emailed them.

Are you in a Morrisons delivery area?

Queenie8 · 16/04/2020 10:37

@fred I did tick the box. I also have an account with morrisons, sainsbury and tesco.

I have logged into my sainsbury account everyday and nothing has changed. I will patiently wait. Thanks for the help.

FaithInfinity · 16/04/2020 10:38

Queenie I know Tesco have a number you can ring..I’ve just registered as a change in circumstances has put me into the extremely vulnerable category, I’m going to call Tesco today to make sure I’m on their list.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:40

Morrisons seem to have good general slot availability- certainly in our area. They seem not as well known. They stopped for about a week but released a lot yesterday. Log on just after midnight (you will need to join the queue about 30 minutes before)

Queenie8 · 16/04/2020 10:41

@faith I've just checked, I do have a tesco account, but no slots available.

I am assuming that the double bank Holiday will have caused a delay in registering vulnerable people.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:46

Form to register on Ocado (existing customers only I believe and you must also complete the government form and say that you need help to get food).

There is a click down box and extremely vulnerable customer is an option.

help.ocado.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

Original poster
Kitten9 · 16/04/2020 10:47

I should have said, she did register on the govt. website but after two weeks with no change and unable to get a delivery slot, we did feel we needed to take those extra steps for her.

OP posts:
ClientQ · 16/04/2020 10:49

I've filled the Ocado form in. Had to tick received a letter even though I still haven't but I have proof I need to shield if they ask

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:49

I am assuming that the double bank Holiday will have caused a delay in registering vulnerable people.

Possibly- I know that Tesco only delivered to extremely vulnerable on Easter Sunday in order to create more slots- they would usually be closed.

Cheeryandmerry · 16/04/2020 10:49

Have completed the extremely vulnerable firm further to receiving a letter and not a dicky bird here! However I do have a couple of Tesco online slots booked (by good fortune, nobody messaged me) over the next three weeks so I’m not worried.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:51

I've filled the Ocado form in. Had to tick received a letter even though I still haven't but I have proof I need to shield if they ask

Have you also done the government form. It does ask if you have had a letter but if you say no and then say that you have one of the listed criteria it still works (in my experience).

www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:52

Have completed the extremely vulnerable firm further to receiving a letter and not a dicky bird here!

You need to say that you need help getting food when it asks on the form. You can do it again if you didn't tick that box initially.

eddiemairswife · 16/04/2020 10:56

There's a difference between vulnerable and extremely vulnerable. I come under vulnerable because of age, but have none of the health problems ,thank goodness, that would make me extremely vulnerable. I have been doing on-line shopping with Waitrose for about 3 years,and they sent an email last week offering me a choice of slots from tomorrow. I think they are sent a list of the vulnerable living in their area.

woodchuck99 · 16/04/2020 10:56

I think that GPs are reviewing the people who have said that they need to shield so that may not have been done in all cases yet. Some people won't stay on the list if their GP disagrees. They should get a letter to let them know though.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 10:57

I think they are sent a list of the vulnerable living in their area.

I don't know about Waitrose but Sainsburys contacted people based on the date of birth registered on their account.

ClientQ · 16/04/2020 10:57

@Fredthedoggie yeah I did the government form when it first came out and said I needed help getting food (I have a Tesco delivery now so not as bad) and haven't heard a peep

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 11:00

I think that GPs are reviewing the people who have said that they need to shield so that may not have been done in all cases yet. Some people won't stay on the list if their GP disagrees. They should get a letter to let them know though.

Interesting. I spoke to a large multi site GP surgery a couple of weeks ago as my initial route was to try and get the people identified (before I realised you could self identify). They said that they had had no involvement in the process of checking people who had self registered and at that point hadn't been asked to revisit their files and had no way of adding anyone to the national extremely vulnerable list.

Of course things change very quickly at the moment.

Fredthedoggie · 16/04/2020 11:03

yeah I did the government form when it first came out and said I needed help getting food (I have a Tesco delivery now so not as bad) and haven't heard a peep

Do it again. That isn't right.

People who registered after the 1st letter heard really quickly (and received a food parcel).

Most of the people I have been helping only registered after the second letter came to those who had not registered so far and they have all now been picked up and offered support.

Leah2005 · 16/04/2020 11:09

The list of medical conditions for needing shielding doesn't include hypertension though. Can I ask if your mum has other conditions which has allowed you to register? Asking for a friend as they say....

Crunchymum · 16/04/2020 11:09

Hmmm, this is very interesting because we registered as vulnerable, ticked the "need help" box or whatever it is and delivery slots opened up. However we don't need the government box, just the delivery slot.

So when the first government box arrived, the letter said to re-register and untick the box and now we can't get a fucking delivery slot!!!

There was no number to call? The letter said clearly to re-register and tick the box that says you cannot get out to get food.

Surely there is an option for delivery slots but not boxes?

No we are back to square bloody one!!!

Cheeryandmerry · 16/04/2020 11:12

Thanks Fred I did at the time, but nothing yet. I guess it takes time to filter through so I’m not worried.

Interesting about GP involvement although my understanding was the opposite - that the extremely vulnerable list had actually originated from GP records, in which case there wouldn’t be any point them trawling through them a second time.