What proof will you get that you need to distance for 12 weeks?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

If you are one of the more vulnerable.

I'm still trying to find info on how severe asthma needs to be to be classed as bad enough to qualify (teen dd has her fingers tightly crossed as the unions have today said kids of vulnerable people should also stay off) and it's got me wondering.
I'm sure I can't just rock up to work, declare that I'm qualifying and just not go in. So what will doctors provide for those who are advised to withdraw from work on that basis I wonder?

[iVampire]

GPS are meant to be doing it from 23/03

I have an outpatients appointment on Monday anyhow, so will be able to check with my team (and ask if someone can generate a ‘to whom it may concern’ letter on headed paper for me)

Interim, I’d use my NHS issued ‘this patient is on cytotoxic chemotherapy’ card, or if someone insisted then I suppose I’d have to wave my prescription or latest hospital letter at them

[doctorsornot]

Asthma Association? My consultant just said I have mild increased risk. I have mild lung disease.

[Musicaltheatremum]

Not sure who is going to contact the vunerable. As a GP we are struggling just to deal with the ill patients. It's like a war zone. I'm getting very little other jobs done at work. All consultations are on the phone and these take longer than usual then when we have to bring a high risk patient down it takes ages to gown up and clean rooms after the patient. So my staff and I don't have time to phone anyone.

[iVampire]

‘ It has repeated in a few places, it's adults who get the flu jab. Not children.’

Some DC get the injectable version for medical reasons, either because sniff (live attenuated) is unsafe or because they are outside the ‘all children’ age range and dead injectable is better option

My DC receive the injectable on NHS

[FthisS]

Severe asthma is the difficult to control type usually brittle asthma which requires more than inhalers. My son has brittle asthma he takes montelukast and long term azythromycin on top of inhalers. He also has regular doses of steroids. So if your asthma falls under this category where it's severe and you are either hospitalized with it or take steroid tablets often you will need to isolate for 12 weeks. If it's asthma which is managed with the usual 2 inhalers you just need to be extra cautious.
We went into complete isolation yesterday as a family, we are so worried for our son he is currently on steroid tablets his asthma goes from fine to a flare up without any build up.

[Oysterbabe]

I'm waiting to see if DD gets a letter. She has a congenital heart defect.

[ClientQueen]

My doctor never even contacts me for a flu jab so I'm not hopeful I'll be contacted about this! I get one every year as I need/should have one

[EmeraldsAtDawn]

Seems to say only those who are even more vulnerable will be directly contacted.
But that those who qualify for the flu jab should be social distancing

This is how I read it.

That vulnerable people should take extra care to socially distance themselves and there is an example list to say who that is. Eg people without spleens. It's this group that is contains anyone invited for a flu jab normally.

Especially vulnerable people will be contacted and asked to isolate for 12 weeks and there is a shorter list of who that might contain. Eg some cancer patients.

[Dontjudgeme101]

I disagree, it’s children too. I have ring 111 and spoken to my DC school and they agreed, that it includes them too.

[Menopauseandteensdontmix100]

I emailed my hospital Dr as I also have another health condition as well as asthma (although it is well controlled). He emailed back saying I am vulnerable so I’m working from home tomorrow.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I'm always offered a flu jab by my gp. I usually get it at work though. I have a hole in my heart (No issues though) and another condition which causes me to randomly pass out. No medication. I'm not sure I ally can be classed as vulnerable?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

It has repeated in a few places, it's adults who get the flu jab. Not children. Due to their incidences of symptoms/infection seemingly being lower and their risk being very low for complications.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

@covetingthepreciousthings

[Dontjudgeme101]

Children with flu jab too are classsed as vulnerable.

[itsgettingweird]

It's says under 70 and instructed to get flu jab as an adult.

What about the children who have a flu jab?

[covetingthepreciousthings]

unions have today said kids of vulnerable people should also stay off)

Can anyone link to more info on this please?

[fezzesarecool]

I’ve got a Kidney problem (37) and get offered the flu jab

I had a phone appointment and explained my concerns and want my job is etc and they have signed me off saying I’m at risk and will review it every couple of weeks

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Seems to say only those who are even more vulnerable will be directly contacted.
But that those who qualify for the flu jab should be social distancing.

We are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

This group includes those who are:

aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma,

[fairynick]

I’m wondering whether I am classed in this group of people. I had a pulmonary embolism two years ago and am otherwise young and healthy. I don’t class myself as vulnerable, and have no breathing problems at all. However, I am on the flu jab list because of this. Do we just have to wait and see if we’re contacted? I’ve found the advice fairly confusing.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

On the NHS guidance page it says

If you are in this category, next week the NHS in England will directly contact you with advice the more stringent measures you should take in order to keep yourself and others safe. For now, you should rigorously follow the social distancing advice in full,.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

I've read that guidance. But it doesn't clarify what "be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures." will mean in terms of staying away from work and how severe asthma should be to warrant it.

My boss would try to argue that it will be severe asthma. She's not really behind people working from home, as we can't, and is looking at those who are off due to SI as a bit of an inconvenience and, frankly, seems to roll her eyes and make out that people are putting it on if they have declared they need to SI.

[Bouncingbomb]

The NHS is incredibly overstretched, GPs won't have the time to be contacting patients to tell them to self isolate.

Being on the flu jab list seems to be a trigger.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Mine needs more than just my (not the basic level) preventative and my reliever to be in control as I also need montelukast and an antihistamine. I don't require regular steroids but did have a bad chest infection at Christmas that needed 2 lots of steroids to clear.

I will await a call from my gp from Monday if they are and chase up if they don't.

[Bouncingbomb]

Guidance.

[SistemaAddict]

I have asthma too and am on a combination inhaler (inhaled corticosteroids and long acting reliever). I've had to double my dose due to tight chest and slight cough the last 2 weeks nearly now. I have a rescue pack of steroids and antibiotics and have had at least two lots of oral steroids this winter. Dds are both asthmatic. We all get the flu vaccine due to asthma. I'm worried about the 12 weeks thing. Which union has said about children of vulnerable adults needing to isolate too? Although as a single parent with no help I'm not sure how me isolating would be beneficial.