Am I a vulnerable person from the supermarket's "special shopping hour" rule?

[frillyfarmer]

I'm an asthmatic, so classed in the Govt's "high risk" category. It's controlled with steroid inhaler and I consider myself to be a "mild" sufferer. I also have a 12 day old EBF baby who I would need to take to the shop with me due to the distance we live.

My original plan had been to do my shopping at 2/3am in a 24 hour store when baby was having one of her early morning wake ups, but apparently the supermarkets now aren't open 24hour?

I feel like a bit of a fraud impinging on the elderly's hour of shopping as I'm a 30year old otherwise fit and healthy adult. But at the same time I obviously need to bear in mind that I have a respiratory disease and I am vulnerable if I catch it.

Can I have some other opinions as to whether you think asthmatics fall into the vulnerable category of shopping?

Could you not ask a neighbour to go for you? If I lived near you, I’d happily get anything you needed.

Facebook have got some amazing community support groups.

@frillyfarmer someone posted this on another thread but maybe phone and check?

Pregnant women and parents with newborns are allowed early in Sainsburys too
It’s at 12:38:33
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3853673-Why-do-the-over-70s-need-nappies?watched=1&msgid=94835893#94835893

Im disabled and am trying to rely on online shopping as usual however if I need anything I plan to go in the elderly and vulnerable hour which is what the Tesco email said.

I'm not stockpiling, I've not bought anything more than usual.

Having seen some of the filming done outside supermarkets today (and living in a place that was the scene of rioting in recent years) and having seen footage of 'sale' events when everything is still available the following morning, bollocks to that - people men mostly will - and are - just turn up and force their way in anyhow.

I've managed to order three months' supply of wanky cat crunchies direct from the manufacturer, which will hopefully be delivered sometime next week. Bugger all else, as all the delivery places, including Amazon Now, are either unusable, have next to nothing, aren't working or have no slots. But the DTwatCats will prevail.

I might end up wiping my arse on the most annoying one

Does ASD qualify as a chronic neurological condition? My DSs will only eat limited foods and are brand specific - same lunch every day does not work with a limit of three on the few things they will eat.

There are obviously existing 'vulnerable' and the new vulnerable.

Perhaps the supermarkets could request proof of receipt of DLA (like theatres, theme parks etc) for existing vulnerable under 70?

I think this is fine .However the extra hour was originally meant for elderly people who may have difficulty walking .The problem generally is that Mr Mrs and Miss Im asthmatic(I am too!), general health issues and so on will be getting a special pass .At this rate the special hour will soon be as busy as the rest of the time!

Perhaps the supermarkets could request proof of receipt of DLA (like theatres, theme parks etc) for existing vulnerable under 70?

How would that secure an online shopping slot ? And following the recent Tesco hack, who'd trust their security to hold it properly ?

Keep ASD isn't a neurological condition so it's not included. I do think the three thing rule is going to be very difficult for parents of autistic children even if they could shop in special hours. Dd has a very limited diet and we're going to struggle to get enough of her foods even despite me having a qualifying disability.

DS and BiL are vulnerable and went to Sainsbury's and it was packed with people claiming to be vulnerable. No less crowded than last time they went.

It's all very well to make the offer but it needs to be policed.

Also not everyone who's disabled claims DLA or has a blue badge. I haven't applied for either. I probably would get at least one but I haven't applied for a variety of reasons. Sainsburys appear to have no strategy to prioritise their delivery slots anyway.

Actually supermarkets could ask for proof of DLA in the same way that online bookies require proof of ID, address, etc - you upload photos taken from your phone on the verification area of the site.

So you upload a gif or pdf of a letter dated within the last three months to accompany your online order.

Fast, cheap and easy.

There are technological problems (understatement) but otherwise there is a contradiction in saying the elderly and vulnerable should self isolate and expecting them to physically go to supermarkets to show in a visual way their age and vulnerability.

Does your area have a community FB group? most are awash with ppl offering help.

My daughter receives DLA, but is not in one of the vulnerable groups.

I claim nothing but am one of the vulnerable groups (asthma so out of control at the moment I can't make to the end of the road without the breath getting taken from me).

So checking DLA/PIP entitlement wouldn't work

I will have to be isolating, but am lucky enough to have a great support network.

However I imagine there are plenty of people like me without other people to shop for them who need to be able to access these provisions.

.

I'm in the " chronic illness" group as I have cerebral Palsy and use a walker
The Current issue is are very long queues into the car park and I cannot stand long enough apart from the obvious risk of close contactCustomers fit enough to jostle and run are also in this queue.... of course there are hidden disabilities but equally these customers wouldn't feel comfortable
Luckily I have a very kind neighbour who's offered help I live alone,

I'm going. I have Addison's disease. My body doesn't produce the hormone needed to survive for life. It really doesn't make the hormone needed for illness

I will be going in this hour.

A friend got turned away from the Sainsbury's this morning. She has COPD and her husband has several serious health issues resulting in frequent hospitalisation, so she doesn't want to pass anything on to him. Despite the supermarket advertising that it was for "vulnerable customers", she got turned away at the door for being too young (and, I guess, not looking like some characatured "disabled person").

So even if you are vulnerable, that's no guarantee they'll let you in.

A friend got turned away from the Sainsbury's this morning. She has COPD and her husband has several serious health issues resulting in frequent hospitalisation, so she doesn't want to pass anything on to him. Despite the supermarket advertising that it was for "vulnerable customers", she got turned away at the door for being too young (and, I guess, not looking like some characatured "disabled person").

Sainsburys ? Shitburys more like it.

Nope

Sainsbury's are claiming on their FB page (deep in the comments) that they are going to work out from customer data who is vulnerable as in elderly or disabled. Date of birth is something they may have but disability? How are they doing that? My meds come direct from the hospital so they can't use their pharmacy records to identify me. What do disabled people buy that identifies them?

Sainsbury's are claiming on their FB page (deep in the comments) that they are going to work out from customer data who is vulnerable as in elderly or disabled. Date of birth is something they may have but disability? How are they doing that? My meds come direct from the hospital so they can't use their pharmacy records to identify me. What do disabled people buy that identifies them?

I think it's safe to say, from this thread, and their twitter feed, that Sainsburys are full of shit. This maybe a warning about working from home without oversight. It looks like the press team had a great idea that looked really good on the website, and now they have no fucking clue how to deliver it.

I've told DP to take all his DWP paperwork with him tomorrow to show at the door, along with his driving license as ID. Hope it works. (He's a carer.)

The problem I found at my local large Sainsbury’s was the elderly people were taking a daughter or son along whom were also piling up their own separate trolleys ( not basket but trolley) I was in the queue before 9am so by the time I got in just after 9am when everyone else could get in, most things were gone. There was no chance for other vulnerable people who came in closer to 9am

Yes @SerendipityJane I agree. Sounds good for PR. It needs to be actioned very carefully.

@AlunWynsKnee most people don't know I'm in a vulnerable group or forget until I remind them.

Even my GPs forget until I turn up for an emergency prescription of antibiotics, they then glance at my notes and look a bit panicked before I remind them that everything is under control.

Don’t worry, you are absolutely one of those intended.