Disabled but queuing

[HeidiHoNeighbour]

Asda have a hour most mornings for frontline, elderly and disabled.
My carer isn’t finished with me before nine, which is the specific hour.

Carer doesn’t do shopping and has never had to because I normally manage in my chair.

Phoned them to ask if I had to queue outside the hour or not.

Live in nw London so queue is at least an hour.

Was told I have to queue.

So I can park near the doors but have to get chair out and go to back of queue for an hour.

No online slots available and no help otherwise.
Cheers Asda.

Thats really poor

I'm sorry about that... I think it is quite a challenge to accommodate for all disabled people in one hour... :(
I hope they review the situation and consider increasing the time.

Wow, how bloody thick is that 😐

Don't know if this helps or not, @ HeidiHoNeighbour, but DH went to Tesco, outside of elderly, disabled, carer hour last week.
There was a security guard on duty, ensuring it was 1 in and 1 out.
He spotted DH and fast tracked him to front of queue and into supermarket.
We don't live in London though.
I did wonder if they had been asked to keep an eye out for vulnerable queuers.
There must be many in your position.
Are there no local help groups in your area? Try Facebook.
Good luck.

I don't know how I feel about it but me, on walking sticks, joined the back of the queue happily today. I'd have been embarrassed if I'd been fast-tracked and, I had a trolley to rest against.

Genuinely not trying to be an arse but is there a reason you can't queue in your chair?

@Wingedharpy. I do live in London.

@Bridecilla
I could if I stay in the road but they constant ask people to queue on the pavement.

It’s very uneven and not wheelchair friendly.

Unlike the front of the store where the disabled parking is!

Asda sent me a message saying I should “apply to register as an vulnerable person so I can get food parcels. Hope that helps!”

The hour slots, whilst well meaning, are badly thought out, it ends up funnelling people into a small time slot. The aim was so they had access to food but it has just ended up with hoardes turning up at that time.

It’s a tricky one, isn’t it? When they ask you to queue on the pavement, could you specifically say you cannot?

@LizzieMacQueen

”I don't know how I feel about it but me, on walking sticks, joined the back of the queue happily today. I'd have been embarrassed if I'd been fast-tracked and, I had a trolley to rest against.”

Some people would not be physically able to manage standing in a queue and doing their shopping. I mean, I can probably manage it but I recognise others cannot.

I was wondering this. I haven't had to shop yet but I can't stand still for any length of time. Was considering digging out my wheelchair.

Can you go later when it’s less busy? Are there less busy times? Where I am the supermarkets all have huge queues in the morning but are almost completely empty in the evening.

Supermarkets near us are almost empty from 6 onwards. They are well stocked too.

I wonder if it’s worth ignoring the special times pat and trying last thing?

Go at a different time. As a PP has said. The time slots are funnelling everyone at the same time. There will be less pressure at other times in the day. And probably less risk as there will be fewer people and less queuing.

Asda have a hour most mornings for frontline, elderly and disabled.

You don't have to use this hour. It's fast becoming the busiest.

It’s busy all the time here.

The queue is round the outer edge of the car park.

Bike racks, electric charging bays and uneven pavement.

I’m not even suggesting I “jump” the queue but I don’t understand why I can’t wait by the doors for the same length if time.
So, if I arrive they say 30 minute wait. That’d be ok, I’d be still, in my chair not having to avoid obstacles and risk tipping out of my chair.

How much hassle is it for you to get out? Just wondering if it would be worth going and speaking to the security guard or whoever is running the queue. Just explain your issues with the pavement (plus, don't know about there but it's bloody freezing here, surely you'd be frozen sitting still for that long?) and ask if either you could skip the queue or if he could call you in your car/from a suitable point when it's your turn.

It might not be store policy, but there's every chance you'll meet an actual human being who will help you.

Let's go back to the start. Who told you that you have to queue? Have you been and done this? Rumour? Some random Asda employee? Store policy? Have you tried talking to someone at the store?

@playthestation
I was told at my local store then I phoned the “helpline” to double check.

I spoke to the guard running the queue and he said they are the rules, confirmed when I phoned them.

They said I should Register as a vulnerable person with the government to receive food parcels.

I may be in a chair but I don’t draw benefits, I work full time and the only thing I ask for is a blue badge (so I can get my chair in/out).
I have a carer in the morning to help me out of bed and dressing.

I’m independent but am being made to feel like a troublesome cripple.

I may be in a chair but I don’t draw benefits

🙄

@playthestation
One of the questions I was asked by Asda (more than once) as if it made a difference.

The few I know who have registered as vulnerable receive pip.

(So do you have to be in receipt of benefits to register?)
Mind you, they’ve been told parcels are coming and three days later still nothing.