Postcode lottery? Where do you live and what are your supermarkets and hospitals like

[middleager]

I live in the West Midlands. Supermarket shelves are stripped, hospitals already heaving and we are told the region is a virus hotspot - the second largest outside London.

In contrast, my relative lives in an affluent area of Bristol. There are eggs and bread on the shelves and I know from normal life she can get GP appointments and the local hospital is better (I know this as she previously lived in my area where services are pushed).

There's disparity. This could also explain why said relative still isn't taking this seriously. She thinks the bare shelves and queues are a media invention.

So where do you live and how is CV impacting your area?

Anybody?

Please don't leave me in isolation

Small Town South East. Shelves are empty at 8pm but restocked at 7.30. No beans or pasta and some other things. Loo roll was out for days then back - 1 per person.

We live in a commuter town just outside London. All supermarkets are empty of shelves and there is a real sense of panic in the streets.

Rural west midlands market town. No idea re hospital, GP has phone appointments, shops much more normal although wasn't looking for toilet roll or nappies. Co op even had frozen food!

West Midlands too. Five most local supermarkets have been stripped bare for days now.

A neighbour is a nurse and she told me that she's supposed to keep it quiet but 3 patients suspected of having CV died at Heartlands hospital, on Thursday. (We were over 2 metres away when she told us. She also said they are struggling with a lack of PPE).

North London. Supermarkets are short but the many corner shops and local food shops are well stocked including loo roll and seem to be restocking daily. Steers very quiet but the people I see are not panicking. I think the fact that smaller shops have no space for parking and fewer Londoners have cars is limiting bulk buying.

Town in the south east in between 2 cities. Not what I would call a particularly affluent area, but not overly poor either.

More stock on the shelves today at our local big supermarket. Still a good few empty shelves, but a lot more stock than there has been throughout the week.

Paracetomol, loo roll, kitchen roll, cleaning supplies, nappies, formula, meat, beans, chopped tomatoes, flour, pasta and rice are still missing today. But that is still a lot better than it was the other day, and theres eggs and fresh fruit and vegetables available today which have previously been seriously lacking.

People are behaving like disgusting, selfish pigs though. Some of the people round here should be ashamed of themselves

Rural Scotland. Less than 30 diagnosed cases so far. Hospitals not stretched (yet). Village shop fully stocked, including fresh milk, eggs etc. Some rationing in our nearest city supermarkets, but restocking overnight keeping supplies running.
I understand the need for a national approach to lockdown, but I think it’s been imposed slightly too early up here. Still, it means we should have a good chance of keeping weekly caseload down for our hospital.

West Midlands here. Same situation as you. I do think it's a regional thing - we have similar supermarket issues when it snows, which I never did Up North.

North Wales boarder.

Had the privilege of being able to avoid the hospitals so far. But have seen the queues outside doctors surgeries so have a good idea of how bad they are.

Supermarkets are varied across the area. We have a lot of big ones nearby. Most places seem to be OK, but it does depend on when and where you go. Morrisons was decimated whereas Asda five miles down the road isn't so bad.

Not every one has the luxury of being able to shop around though unfortunately.

I'm in Cornwall the local co-op is pretty well stocked but I've heard the big supermarkets are empty and have large queues from 6am, I've been trying not to go so haven't seen for myself. I need some fresh veg and I'm slightly dreading having to go shopping.

The one main hospital is constantly in crisis, it doesn't take much for it to reach Opel 4 aka black alert.

Thornbury just North of Bristol. Yesterday Tesco out of eggs, flour, toilet roll, kitchen roll, etc food stocks lowish but loads of stuff you can survive on (lots of bread). Local hardware store today had toilet paper at £1 for 4 roll packs, only allowing people to buy 2 packs.

Not sure about hospitals/GPs.

Yesterday cafes and pubs open and people obviously still totally unaware of what's coming or couldn't give a fuck about anyone else!

West Midlands also. It’s shit isn’t it.