to think that I won't be able to self isolate if I have to

[polarfrogs]

I have nobody to do the shopping for me or my elderly parents so I will have to carry on with that. I have tried to get a delivery slot today but they are either all fully booked or cost money which is beyond my budget so I will have to go shopping at some point. I don't have other family or friends to call on - parents have dementia, PILs are deceased and parents and us live in a different country to the rest of the family.

I need to go and get medication for both my parents and can't get more yet because their surgery only prescribe a month at a time; they have a week left in stock and the surgery won't authorise a request for another week.

We're on a low income and so can't do a bulk shop in advance.

Well, seeing as I was talking about beans then I didn't realise I needed to be so specific especially in light of the rest of my post. My cupboards have many own brand items but some things, like beans (and Cheerios) are branded.

Call Salvation Army or churches and tell them your predicament. Get support in place in case you need it. Do you have any friendly neighbours?

NHS worker here.

Not only can I not self isolate, but my annual leave is also on the verge of being cancelled.

Our village has also set up a community group to help vulnerable or poorly people who actually do need to self isolate.

But most people don't.

Get a support system in place now.

Our local Facebook group is setting up a delivery service for people who need to stay at home. People order via Facebook/phone and things are delivered to their door. Payment is cash in an envelope or bank transfer/Paypal.

I'm a dog walker and have offered to buy people pet food and essentials when I walk their dogs if they need to self-isolate for no extra charge, for example, and I'd do the same for someone who wasn't a client of mine either.

Ask around on local FB groups or single parent support groups in your area - someone will be willing and able to help if you ask!

I didn't know where to post this so apologies for bunging it in here but I read the other day and again last night that in North Korea the leader has ordered people diagnosed with CV to be shot. I felt sick at what was printed.

You didnt know where to put it, so put on a thread created by someone, worrying?

What is wrong with people on here?

Op have you actually looked into options for you and your parents, or just worrying more generally?

I'm thinking about all those documentaries in which kids and teenagers roam their housing estates causing mayhem and their parents can't control it. Will that change? Will these kids meekly stay indoors because Boris told them to?

You said 'I'd rather go without than eat cheap beans'. That means you'd rather starve than eat cheap beans. Choose your words more carefully next time if that's not what you mean.

No its not what that means at all. You need to read more carefully.

If I was given the choice between never eating chocolate again or asda smart price chocolate, I would pick no chocolate.

Doesnt mean I am starving myself. Just I don't like that chocolate. But would be eating other food.

SudokuQueen You are being obtuse and putting words into Bercows' mouth. Nowhere did she say she would rather starve than eat cheapo beans but that she would prefer to not eat them, ie she would eat something else and I agree with her.

Larger pharmacies do deliveries to the housebound, my Aunty gets hers delivered like this.

Larger pharmacies do deliveries to the housebound, my Aunty gets hers delivered like this.

But at the moment only a few people need this service. Will they still be able to manage it when 50/60/70% of the country need to have things delivered?

It would put your parents at far more risk if you visit them when you’re potentially going to give them the virus.
There will be contingency planning happening right now for people in your parents situation re medication etc. This is a developing situation and a LOT of work is going - everyone is ramping up to ensure appropriate cover is in place. It takes time, but I expect in the next few days we’ll get a lot more information.
The peak impact is still weeks away - in logistics terms that’s a LOT of time. The food supply network is in good shape - lorries are getting in and out of the depots and restocking the shops. Orders are being increased, suppliers have ramped up production lines.
You have kids, they have friends - they will have parents in the same position. Get a circle organised so there’s people ‘on call’ to help each other with shopping etc if needed. Not everyone will be isolating at the same time.

I get the waitrose comment, and broadband (can you place orders from your phone?) - but Iceland do free delivery too.

@adaline - as we get towards that point resources will be diverted to ensure that people get essential medicines. Pharmacy and food are treated as essential services- if drivers, warehouse pickers etc are needed they will get priority over other parts of the economy. Businesses and agencies are working with councils and health boards across the country to maintain essential supply chains. There is across the board cooperation to keep things moving.

I just had a look at nextdoor after seeing references on this thread - the publicise your address, on signing up merrily state they will use your address book, no obvious way to sign out/cancel process /opt out of that. Or to contact them and complain. Complaint straight to information commissioners office. AVOID

I had a look at Nextdoor, the only posts are about badgers digging up gardens.

You have kids, they have friends - they will have parents in the same position. Get a circle organised so there’s people ‘on call’ to help each other with shopping etc if needed. Not everyone will be isolating at the same time.

So I send them to school and tell them to ask their friends for the phone numbers for their parents, who I don't know from Adam, so I can trust complete strangers with my bank details/expect them to trust me with theirs?

So you would be OK going out with the virus and infecting others?

There are other ways.

Not that I'm ill, but I've tried, just out of interest, to book a delivery with all the supermarkets that deliver (Surrey) and there are NONE ie NO slots available.

So how is self-isolation going to work, if I did actually get ill?

No delivery slots. For the next 3 weeks.

So how is self-isolation going to work, if I did actually get ill?
Most people don’t do online shopping ever. I never have. That is why people are trying to get enough food in for at least seven days. You can’t expect to sit at home ordering online shopping and takeaways while watching telly.

It was a serious question Daisy. Don't be flippant, I'm not sat at home ordering takeaways.

How long can the average family of 4 last, without food delivered? What is expected?

I could probably afford Waitrose but there isn’t one near me. I think I’ll do click and collect from Asda - you get the shopping from unmanned lockers. Limit contact with humans.

Don't be flippant,
You are the one being flippant, expecting online deliveries. It’s so entitled. You cannot guarantee that luxury will continue. Go to the shop, get enough food for a week.

10 more people have died in UK today, we all need to learn how to self isolate if necessary, and hope that there will be means to help vulnerable people.

This is when communities need to pull together.

We live quite rurally. Whenever, we have issues with snow and people get stuck, can't shop etc there are always people volunteering help on Facebook. Hopefully the same will happen with respect to Coronavirus when more people need help. We are still in the early stages at the moment.

I had a look at Nextdoor, the only posts are about badgers digging up gardens.

You know you can make a post right?

If none of your neighbours have started a support network yet, you could start it.