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Original poster

Told daughter needed to be shielded now told she doesn’t?!

120 replies

PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:29

What the hell!! So I got a letter a few weeks ago saying my daughter was extremely vulnerable and needed to be shielded for 12 weeks, I’ve now had a text to say they’ve “reviewed” her medical notes and have decided that actually she doesnt need to be shielding, what the hell is that about?! I’ve been worried sick about my daughter, now to be told they were wrong?! Has anyone else had this? I’m a lone parent so couldn’t leave the house at all.

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 17/04/2020 15:32

Well would you have preferred it the other way round??

So you were more careful than was strictly necessary. Hence you and your daughter have not been ill. Win, I’d say.

That’s how it works with things like this - protocols are followed to the best of what is so far known, then evaluated again if need be.

EvianBath · 17/04/2020 15:34

Yep, we had similar but with an adult relative that got very upset to be shielded and then upset to realise they didn't need to be, after all.

The only consolation was to realise that GPs had something like 48 hours to compose the original list and it's better for them to include people that shouldn't be, than exclude people that should be shielded and put them at risk (though I suspect that also happened).

The horrible reality of a pandemic like this is that things have to happen so quickly that mistakes will happen.

When we looked again at the shielding info online with our relative, the clues were all there that they had been included by mistake (they have lots of serious health issues but none from the shielded list) so I kick myself we didn't pay more attention and hold ourselves a bit responsible, tbh.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:36

No of course I wouldn’t prefer it the other way but I am concerned that if they can make a mistake once they can again. What if I relax abit and they were wrong, I’m confused and concerned how they got it wrong.

OP posts:
chickenyhead · 17/04/2020 15:39

It would concern me very much.

If they can make mistakes saying who should be sheilded, they can make mistakes saying they don't.

If I were you I would check the sheilded criteria and see whether it applies.

The inconvenience if it was unnecessary is reasonable. They were just being cautious.

coconuttelegraph · 17/04/2020 15:40

Better safe than sorry, if you're worried carry on with the shielding. What seems like years ago now on the early threads there were posts to say the safest thing to do if you're work on the basis that everyone else has it and you could catch it so take the most strict precautions you feel necessary, I think that still applies.

Ninkanink · 17/04/2020 15:40

They got it wrong for any number of reasons. They would have had less data to go on at that stage, they will have had to make educated guesses, basically, on which conditions might have rendered some individuals more susceptible to severe cases of Covid-19. Those individuals will have been advised to shield.

My daughter originally came under the extremely vulnerable category, then later was downgraded in line with how the guidelines had changed.

Needtobepositive · 17/04/2020 15:41

What condition does your daughter suffer from? I expected mine to be on the shielded list but she’s not. There is a list somewhere. See if it compares.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:42

It wasn’t the inconvenience it was that I have been worried sick, terrified she would get it and the worst happen since that’s what the letter is about, that if you are on the list you are more likely to be seriously ill or die.

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 17/04/2020 15:43

I imagine they had a criteria and if you met it then they sent out the letters or texts but that blanket criteria didn’t take into account individual factors which they now have had the time to look at. Just like everything with this virus the government seem to be playing catch up

Needtobepositive · 17/04/2020 15:43

Also my daughter has been out for a walk twice in the last 4 weeks. We are keeping her in as much as possible even though she is allowed to go for walks.

MyDcAreMarvel · 17/04/2020 15:45

What medical condition does your dd have? is it on the published list?

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:48

She has sickle cell trait. She has autism and has been climbing the walls being stuck in for weeks. It’s a relief of course but the mixed messages are confusing.

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 17/04/2020 15:49

Yes, but again...would you have preferred that they didn’t advise you as such, and you had gone about your business all relaxed and not taken it seriously, and then it turned out her condition did mean she was at higher risk of complication? Would not have worrying about her been worth it then?

I really don’t see what you’re actually complaining about.

Womble65 · 17/04/2020 15:49

I think all surgeries compiled their lists differently. Dh and I both got one, for no reason as far as we could tell. Turns out they sent them to everyone they offer flu jabs too (even if I have never had one offered, but I think by next winter I will have made the age cut off). But then I don’t think the admin side of my surgery if very good as I’ve previously had a letter saying we have been asked to check your blood pressure. I was slightly concerned as to who was requesting my surgery do this, when it turns out it is just their standard way to call you in for biannual tests. I did say the language should be clearer.

freddiethegreat · 17/04/2020 15:50

My 17 year old is on the shielded list, I knew it before the letter/s came from the general list, but he didn’t start getting letters/contact until the second wave. Now has had three (NHS, local hospital, specialist nurse) in a week. And he is absolutely refusing to adhere to it, only barely adhering to general lockdown & there is nothing I can do about it!

Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 15:52

Yes!

I got a letter to say my daughter was extremely vulnerable and to shield.

Then my gp rang me to say she wasn't. It was down to a word that had been written on her notes when she was younger

But just to ignore. I have to say I was over the moon!!!!!

Hobbes8 · 17/04/2020 15:53

The original letters went out based on data extracted from hospital. Since then GP practices have been asked to review their lists of shielded patients and add any patients that they felt met the criteria. There’s also a process for patients to register themselves as vulnerable and the GPs have also been asked to review those patients and confirm whether they meet the criteria.

I presume your GP has reviewed your daughter and decided she doesn’t require shielding. The shielded patients have to follow very stringent restrictions (as I’m sure you know) and they only want to apply these to the most high risk patients. Some patients that don’t meet the criteria are deciding to shield anyway, but they won’t necessarily receive government support with things like food deliveries and medicines.

And yes, GPs were given the data on the day before good Friday and told to review it by Tuesday - luckily the bank holidays had been cancelled for them by then anyway Hmm

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:54

Oh pls stop trying to twist it and go and find another thread. The letter states if my daughter gets sick she is someone who is lightly to need to be hospitalised above other people. Of course I’ve been terrified if she will catch it as usually in children it’s not as serious. And yes I would have been different as she would have been allowed out once a day and staying in for 3 weeks is really affecting us.

OP posts:
Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 15:54

Sickle cell is on the list though

It's no 5. Or 6. Under the rare co Dutton that means you don't metabolise illness. Including sickle cell.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:55

Likely*

OP posts:
Stingeray · 17/04/2020 15:57

Sorry you have been worried but isn't it better they quickly informed people potentially at risk that they should shield and then looked closer at individuals? They are trying to save as many lives as possible so possible cases of people shielding unnecessarily wasn't a priority issue. The update might also be based on new data which wasn't available at the time you were told to shield.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 15:57

She has sickle cell trait not sickle cell, I was surprised to see her on the list as I wasn’t expecting it, as it was my understanding that sickle cell trait is not the same but I thought what do I know, I’m not a doctor and maybe something about it would mean she is more at risk. It seems they just saw sickle cell and put her on the list.

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 17/04/2020 15:59

Sickle cell trait is not on the list, only sickle cell disease

Hoggleludo · 17/04/2020 15:59

Ahh ok

Then yes. Try not to worry. It's hard for all of us

I'm on the extremely vulnerable list. Other than a letter there's not much it does. I've got priority booking on home deliveries. That's about it

I'm staying home. My husband is. I've got amazing neighbours who do my medication shopping for me.

Original poster
PumpkinP · 17/04/2020 16:01

It seems that’s where they got it wrong, like I said I was shocked when they sent the letter.

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