To say if they mandate mask wearing they need to ensure some way for the exempt from masks to prove it?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I am not anti-masks at all, I can see they are often very useful tools in infection control when used correctly (though it doesn’t seem they are by many people) but as someone ‘officially exempt’ from wearing them - in my case due to asthma - I’m increasingly panicked at the thought they’ll be made mandatory in shops and other places.

I have been able to avoid public transport thankfully due to furlough/wfh but I’ve wanted to shop, help the economy etc. and I fear I’ll have to stay away completely if masks are mandatory because I don’t think my exemption would be believed, or that I wouldn’t have people having a go at me for being out without a mask. I’ve tried many times to wear them and they make my symptoms (already far worse than usual due to pregnancy) ramp up even more. It’s very distressing, especially as it causes coughing, and I’m then removing the mask (touching the mask and my face, definitely not mask best practice) repeatedly to try and regulate my breathing. I’m following all other guidance sensibly, lots of hand washing, keeping my distance from others when out, but all things considered I think I’m more risk to others in a mask than without one should I be carrying CV.

I am very worried that despite being exempt I have no way to prove it to shops or other businesses. I carry my inhalers but that relies on others understanding, the government have previously said there won’t be anything official to prove exemption, though public transport companies have come up with different options (I’ve printed the TfL card just in case, but technically anyone could do this as it’s not verified) I’ve already been told once that someone ‘didn’t agree’ with exemptions to mask wearing and I should basically suck it up. People who want to be mean won’t check for exemption before having a go I’m sure of it.

But at the very least shouldn’t they ensure there’s some official way I could prove my exemption, a letter or card I could apply for from my doctor perhaps, that’s recognisable to others so I’m not at risk of not being believed or being yelled at? There are many people who will be in the some position.

Nope. Most hospitals do not give you access to your records. I suspect it's more likely to have consultant letters with a long standing condition.

Have you asked recently?

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/gp-online-services/

They dont give you access full stop. I have no need to ask. My records are not online.

But they arent going to are they. I reiterate what ivd already said. The Government have decided no proof is needed for exemption. That's not going to change

Of course not. It's not as if there have been any u turns so far and/or changes that we would never thought possible a few months ago is it?

They dont give you access full stop. I have no need to ask. My records are not online.

What do you mean they're not online? That would only be the case if you have never seen her GP or been to a hospital.

her a

@annabel85 I think that’s an assumption, have you been to all those other countries and asked people how they feel, especially people with disabilities and health conditions who may struggle with them?

The is one specialist department that I can access records relating to my recent admission for 8 weeks I think it is. Doesn't tell me anything other than what I already know. Sometimes handy for appointments, but not much else.
However, it's not run by nhs.

My nhs departments rely on text and snail mail. Gp no online method other than to order repeats and as a way to avoid the phone system. Although results you have to phone them, well unless they've already phoned you that is!!

This is the same as the BLM campaigners saying those, who enjoy white privilege cannot comprehend the racism they suffer on a daily basis; except here its the worried well saying its quite easy for disabled people to get proof of exemption to show every time they want to go to the shops - when "normal" posters have no comprehension of the discrimination the disabled already suffer, while the "normal" population take it upon themselves to question the disabled about their use of disabled toilets, blue badge spaces, take up of benefits (how unfair it is that they get a brand new Motability car, while the public have to make do with an old banger), etc....

Just one instance - I remember once, queueing up with DD for the disabled toilets, while the queue for the ladies was about 10 times long at the O2 arena. One woman shouted at me, that I shouldn't queue jump, by using the disabled toilets, when they all had to queue up for the ladies. I told them that if DD suffered any pain as she needed to go to the toilet, and could not wait; we would end up calling 999 and DD would miss the second half of the show.

I remember another time, I and a careworker took DD, aged about 22 to see a children's film on a Tuesday afternoon (because its stressful for one adult to take her out) - because at that time, she was functioning at the level of a 4 year old and a children's film about dogs was ideal for her. The ticket office told me loudly this was a CHILDREN's film. I told them I knew that, and it was fine. She said pointedly again, its a CHILDREN's film! I should not have to say over DD's head - well she has LEARNING DISABILITIES, and that is the level she functions at. Thereby, making DD feel a failure all over again - seeing as she had to live and see the rest of her family, go to university, qualify in a profession, get married, have children, etc; none of which would ever happen for her, and she was acutely aware of it.

Its not a case of accessing medical records, because there is very little in them about learning disability and the complexities of it, like the speech therapy report saying DD's language age is now about three years old or the clinical psychologist's report saying he cannot measure her IQ, as she is now incapable of learning new information, due to a severe memory impairment and therefore does not understand how to do the IQ tests.

I would ask how many of you were sent a DNAR for your children, as we were for DD in March? We know perfectly well, if she got the corona virus, she would be bottom of any list at any hospital for treatment, because so often the tacit attitude is that people with learning disabilities would be better off dead. There's not much equality then!

@LouJ85 I agree with everything you've said but we've turned into a country where, to many people, nothing matters much as Covid. Not physical health, certainly not mental health, not children being deprived of education, not domestic violence, not the loss of jobs and home. The answer is always 'Of course it matters but not as much as Covid. I realised how bad it was when someone commented that 'never before has anyone experienced the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one without being able to hold their hand as they slip away'. No, of course no-one has ever died before without their full family being in attendance It is genuinely beyond belief how completely fanatical some people have become about this.

@mrpumblechook
As patients we can also decide if the medical records link between gp and all the various departments. Even then. it assumes that department has the relevant system. Many visit places outside their own trusts for ongoing treatment etc.

Some trusts had only started to implement it within the last year, and of course covid came along and attention elsewhere.

Many of these departments have also been closed or sparse services, they have a backlog to try and get through so won't be having time to send out letters to confirm at patient has X diagnosis,.

[quote BuffaloCauliflower]@annabel85 I think that’s an assumption, have you been to all those other countries and asked people how they feel, especially people with disabilities and health conditions who may struggle with them?[/quote]
I'm not Annabel obviously!!

Why would anyone need to go anywhere to ask anyone?

Feel about what?

@BamboozledandBefuddled - 100% agree. It's as though death and suffering and illness didn't exist before, isn't it. I'm a mental health professional and I was outraged at the hatred and witch hunting that occurred when people "dared" to leave their houses right at the beginning of lockdown. These people were branded "selfish c*nts" all over social media, some reported to the police. What if, just what if, that 20 minute walk outside was the only thing stopping them from taking their own life due to the mental anguish of being unable to see family / friends, feeling isolated and alone. Does suicide due to severe mental distress and isolation no longer occur? Did it not occur pre Covid? We should not ever judge - everyone is doing their best with the physical, social and psychological resources they have at any given moment, pandemic or not. I honestly despair at times...

I'm severely asthmatic so much so I've been having 4 x Xolair injections every 2 weeks for the past 5 years. However, in no way does wearing a mask make asthma worse! It sounds like you're having panic/anxiety attacks so maybe you should get some help for this?

"Of course not. It's not as if there have been any u turns so far and/or changes that we would never thought possible a few months ago is it?"
They wont make changes for people to be able to prove they cant wear a mask. Every option discussed on here costs money and management, and time. This mask wearing is fairly short term. It's not going to happen is it. They dont care if people get challenged or not.

I agree with everything you've said but we've turned into a country where, to many people, nothing matters much as Covid
I don't think that's true at all. The OP posed a question and people are trying to offer solutions. If none of those solutions work then what do you suggest? Because despite the earlier post, what some very vocal posters are suggesting all over social media is that no-one should wear masks.
It's also odd to assume that posters don't have hidden conditions or disabilities because they're not posting the details on this thread.

@DarkMintChocolate
I couldn't agree more with you.

And the same people will be moaning in months to come about how unreasonable the school is not allowing their kid in because of a stomach bug after all, they haven't thrown up in 6 hours.

Anyone remember the care for others in school when it came to allergies?

I don't know if it was this one or another thread, oh they are a pain because make-up. I hope is was a pisstake, but you never know.

People are going to have to suck it up and get used to seeing people without masks going about their daily lives. Just like the workers in the shops some are desperate to get to won't be wearing them, public transport workers etc.

I would suggest the second choice but I don't like to enforce people to stay prisoners within their own homes when no crime has been committed or suspected.

@sidsgranny

I'm severely asthmatic so much so I've been having 4 x Xolair injections every 2 weeks for the past 5 years. However, in no way does wearing a mask make asthma worse! It sounds like you're having panic/anxiety attacks so maybe you should get some help for this?

I agree. I have asthma and still think it's best to wear a face covering. Surely if someone gets so breathless, shouldn't they minimise theirs and others risk of getting a potentially devastating illness such as COVID-19?

I was fine with washable masks at first. But then I would put one on, walk into a shop and be very breathless talking to anyone. But then I went back to surgical type masks and feel so much better.

It seems so many people don't want to try them out, even for their own or others benefit. If so many claim an exemption, then the benefits of others wearing a face covering will be greatly diminished and a second wave is much more likely. Is that the price some people are willing to pay for some inconvenience or discomfort now?

”@canigooutyet”

Thank you! It took us 4 years to persuade DD, from the age of 14 to wear head protection (for her uncontrollable seizures) and in the end, she only agreed because she said herself, she was fed up with living with concussion all the time. During that time, the person we knew, died from the repeated blows to the head! We have the grief of seeing her body walking about; but it’s not the person we knew!

She is acutely self conscious of wearing head protection - and so many people stare, when we take her out! Really she needs full face protection as well; but that is a step too far for her - she refuses to wear it and suffers all the facial injuries! I am not inclined to even begin arguing about face masks!

My nhs departments rely on text and snail mail. Gp no online method other than to order repeats and as a way to avoid the phone system. Although results you have to phone them, well unless they've already phoned you that is!!

I work in the NHS as well as being a patient and all the hospitals in my area of the country can give patients online access now. It is fairly recent though so perhaps they are not as up-to-date in some areas.

They wont make changes for people to be able to prove they cant wear a mask. Every option discussed on here costs money and management, and time. This mask wearing is fairly short term. It's not going to happen is it. They dont care if people get challenged or not.

I hope it is short-term but it may not be unfortunately. It may cost money and time to sort out who should be exempt but considering the deaths, long term ill health and and economic damage of this virus whether or not they spend the money will depend on how effective masks turn out to be. If they are effective and they make it possible for the economy to significantly improve they would spend the money.

I may have missed it but has there been a demand for children to carry their birth certificates when they are in shops? Exemption applies to children under 11 - some children look young for their age, some look older. Presumably those who favour a rigorous burden of proof being placed on those with medical exemption feel just as strongly about age exemption and would want to apply the same conditions. If not, I wonder why.

Slam Dunk!!!!!!!!!!!!

James o Brien rubber stamping my point that the hard left are just as dangerous to disabled people as the hard right.

Just wear the mask. It won't kill you. But COVID-19 will.

Does that help?

Applesinthefridge...if you go on threads about kids returning to school, people will virtually tell you covid doesnt exist any more and you are more likely to be hit by a bus.

@Applesinthefridge

Just wear the mask. It won't kill you. But COVID-19 will.

Does that help?

Will it? Then why the fuck are huge numbers of people who've had it still hanging around and cluttering the planet up? Or are you suggesting they're zombies?

Not everyone who gets it dies. Many live. Does that help?