Supermarket slots and shielding vulnerable customers

[Scout2016]

Sorry if this has been done, I can't find it. Has anyone been contacted by a supermarket and offered a delivery slot? If so did you have an account with them already? My mum should be on the shielding vulnerable list, the GP has confirmed this but she hasn't had an NHS letter. Dad has registered her on the Government vulnerable site but had nothing by way of confirmation. She has no supermarket accounts as doesn't use computers. So we are wondering how the supermarket will contact her and offer a delivery slot.
When you try to register her for an account it says they aren't taking new customers unless they are vulnerable, which she is, but we don't get far enough into registration to tell them. Seems they gave to make the first move- do the government give them her address or phone number?

Any help very welcome please. Thanks.

When your Dad registered your Mum, he had to give contact details, so, presumably, those details will be used to make contact.
The system is still a bit shambolic OP.
IMHO, if your parents are getting desperate for shopping, try going to their local Facebook Covid support page and seeing if a volunteer can help.

You can try Iceland? I’ve seen slots pop up this week randomly

I'm a shielder too.
I have been contacted, via email, by Asda (no delivery slots for 10 days, very limited choice, rations on amounts to buy) and Sainsbury's (registered with them via their link, gave all the details ,then the message came back that I'm not recognised as extremely vulnerable).
I only share this with you to point out that "getting on the priority shopping list", can, in reality, not be the panacea that it may seem.
DH is still doing ours and we are being extra vigilant re: hygiene etc.
I only wanted to see how it works, in case DH can't go for any reason and we need to use it in an emergency.

Thanks everyone. So far we are coping - dad managed to get a fluke slot with Sainsburys a while back through his account, presumably because he is over 70, and I have found morrisons boxes,fruit baskets and some local delivery people to try. Also checking Iceland etc all the time. The council are meant to be sending a box of basics for her but there are two of them and fresh stuff would be good. What's happening at local government level and national seems to be different, with no join-up. So far we are coping but this will go on a while and I guess we just want to be sure we've done all we can. I thought they should get email confirmation having registered her on the government website but they didn't. Then the GP rings to say she needs to stay in for 12 weeks, but that they aren't responsible for her going on the shielding list. Mum thought she would get a NHS letter with a code on it that magically made delivery slots available to her. No idea why she thought that! Anyway she hasn't had a letter and I'm sure no code exists.
Also have elderly relative in Wales and Welsh Government seems even further behind ours, plus no where will deliver there,but that's another story.

Sorry to go on. Feeling but stressed and useless and they are a long way away. I know there will be lots of people in worse boats.

The supermarkets get the list from the government and then cross check with their already registered customers then are contacting them. So, as you say, she's not on the list and she isn't registered with any online delivery services so no they won't know anything about her. I don't know if registering as vulnerable locally will make any difference as the supermarkets can't contact every GP, plus again she's not already registered with the supermarkets anyway.
All I can think is she calls the customer service but what's to prevent everybody from doing that claiming they are vulnerable whether they are or not?

Thanks @Pip useful to know how it works. Sounds like anyone who doesn't already have an account, like my mum or gran, aren't going to be helped by the scheme.

I received an email from Sainsburys, I'm an existing customer but it did talk of registering with them. So I assume that once they get information that someone is on the vulnerable list, they are emailing them speculatively and inviting them to register?

@Scout2016 :
Try www.covidmutualaid.org to find out what's available in the areas of your vulnerable elders.
The local Facebook page of the areas you want to check is also a good resource.
I'd read somewhere (can't remember where - I've read that much!), that the thousands of volunteers will be available fairly soon, ?next week, and that some of these kind folk will be tasked with shopping for food for the likes of your parents.

I was of the same mind as your Mum in that I thought a letter would include some sort of PIN number that you had to declare to get your "priority" pass!

I've never grocery shopped on line in my life so, I don't think Pipandmum's take on it is strictly true.

Does she have a nectar card or a Tesco club card that she uses in store?

My shielding parents were contacted by Asda and offered a slot. They didn't have an account with Asda before. They usually shop in person at Morrisons.

I would check that your mum is registered properly on the government website in the first instance.
I guess Asda got their details from the government website where you are asked to register, when you receive your shielded letter. They ask about your access to food and if you need help on that website.

Thanks everyone. Mum doesn't have any supermarket loyalty cards. There are some volunteers helping in their area but they seem rather over stretched. There are some businesses doing deliveries but lots aren't taking anyone new. We will manage thank you and if it got mega desperate I would drive down and leave stuff. It's more how on earth are things (meant to be) working and are we doing all we can.

The most forgotten are those in the sheilding group who don’t use technology and used to shop in store with cash

If your dad is over 70 and has had a previous online delivery with them, he can register with Sainsbury’s to get priority slots. Iceland release new priority slots at lunchtime every day (done on trust as they’re also available for self isolating people). They’re relatively easy to get.

Also, Morrison’s now have a telephone ordering service for people like your mum.

@ChipotleBlessing thank you, that's helpful. Morrisons are doing some good work.
@RandomlyChosenName I agree, very much so.