High risk (not shielding) shopping

[Woodandsky]

I’m high risk due to my asthma, although my medication is on the shielding list it’s at the next dose up from mine. So I think I’m relatively high risk.

The shopping thing is pissing me off, I cannot seem to get any online delivery slots since I’m not on the shielding list. Obviously it’s right that they get priority but surely not everyone booking up every slot is shielding?

Also Sainsbury’s have special shopping hours, but they are only for elderly & disabled people, why aren’t high risk people also included?

Are there any supermarkets that would let me in in their ‘special’ hours? Is there any way I can get online shopping? I have serious anxiety issues and I’m too scared to turn up in case I have to argue to be let in. My pregnant disabled daughter in law had to argue to be let in to Tesco’s vulnerable people hour because she was ‘too young’. She’s since had the shielding letter so at least she can get shopping delivered now.

I know there are far worse things to worry about but when we’re told we’re high risk but given no help I’m getting kind of fed up.

I have asthma and my medication is on the list but the slightly stronger one, same as you I assume.

I go and do our shopping once a week, maintain a good distance and wash my hands well on my return. There is no way I feel I am deserving of a priority shopping slot either in store or by delivery. I am not sure it sound alike you are priority either.

I reckon this is your anxiety making you think like this. You should be absolutely fine going to do shopping if you make sure you adhere to the correct procedures

Sainsbury’s have special shopping hours, but they are only for elderly & disabled people, why aren’t high risk people also included?

There are millions of people in the high risk (not shielding) category. 5.5 million people in the UK have asthma alone. Once you take into account heart problems and other conditions there would be no point in having a special shopping hour as so many people would be eligible for it

Wouldnt you be safer shopping in normal times, rather than at the same time as people who are working with the ill daily? I certainly wouldnt want to be in a queue with nhs staff at the moment.

I do the shopping for two sets of vulnerable neighbours who can’t get delivery slots. Have you asked a neighbour or local friend for help?

Sainsbury’s have special shopping hours, but they are only for elderly & disabled people, why aren’t high risk people also included

My mother said she's not shopping in "granny hour" where you have lots of people with frailties and illnesses. I see where she's coming from, and in your shoes would go any other time when it's quiet. I have just walked into my local town, there was a queue for Sainsburys but nobody at all for Waitrose. You just need to pick your time and you can go straight in, not queue, get what you need and be away.

Online shopping seems to depend a bit on where you live. We are in North West / Wales borders and it seems fairly easy to get a slot for click and collect or delivery with a bit of persistence (asthma here too, plus shopping for elderly neighbour ). I’ve checked through out the day - as slots seem to be released at random times, and this has worked out reasonably well.

The Morrison’s food boxes are another option (or Aldi or M&S) but I have also shopped in local corner shop type places - usually I’m the only customer and stock has been good (though obviously limited choice)

Thanks everyone.

I know I’m blowing it out of proportion, it’s really not a great time to have anxiety issues.

I am getting DH to do the shopping now since I was a panicky mess after the last time I went, but he works long hours and I’m at home so I really want to be able to sort it. Also of course if he catches it & brings it home I’m still in trouble.

Sorry you are getting stressed about this. Has it been long since you've been shopping? After an awful couple of weeks when supermarkets were basically battlefields, I've found that they have really calmed down and as long as you avoid weekends, they're not as busy as usual.

There are loads of click and collect available near me. Have you tried that? And local butchers etc.

The special shopping hours are for elderly and vulnerable (not disabled). You can go then although it's busier. I'd go as late as possible if you genuinely can't get a slot. Also try being already logged on with several supermarkets at midnight when they release the slots

I’ve not long since been to Tesco and I’d recommend going after tea if you have to go. It was pretty empty and I could easily avoid contact with others.

My local Tesco tell me that the busiest time of day is 9-10 when, depending on the day off the week, they are open only for vulnerable customers or for key workers.

6-9pm is apparently the quietest time. Might be different at your local shop, of course. Perhaps your husband can report back after his trip.

There are loads of local groups who will do your shopping for you

Asda release there shopping slots at 10pm so maybe try them? set an alarm for say 930 (as I think it can be hard to get on there if you leave it too late) choose all your shopping and bang on ten keep refreshing the delivery slots and they come up.

All inhalers are on the shielding list I think. Doesn’t mean you are high risk. My inhaler is on the list but I take a smaller dose by 50mg. Wouldn’t even cross my mind to take up a delivery slot because of my asthma.

We have a condition that may increase our risk, sure, but your inhaler being mentioned on the list doesn’t make you automatically high risk so try not to worry unless you’ve been admitted to hospital frequently lately!

I am in the same situation, asthmatic but not shielding level high risk. In our area delivery slots aren't toooooooo hard to get. Tesco release theirs at midnight every day but for about in 3wks time so good if you can plan ahead. Asda ones seem to pop up randomly throughout the day here but I have seen them available.

Sorry I’ve reread my post and it doesn’t sound how I wanted it to. Try not to worry was the message I failed to get across!

Agree with User re inhalers. Asthma UK's guidance seems to keep changing, but the most recent version I saw was that the people needing to shield would be on the stronger medications and montelukast (for some but not all types of inhaler) and had had at least 4 courses of prednisolone in the past 6 months (or are on specialist biological therapy). You may know this already so I apologise if I'm repeating the obvious - but like User I wanted to offer some reassurance.

*sorry, where I wrote 'stronger medications' I meant 'stronger inhalers'.

Thanks guys
Re the inhalers it doesn't really help that my doctors texted saying you might need to shield and here's a list of medications and doses work it out for yourself...
I think my anxiety is probably the far bigger issue here and the shopping is where I'm venting it. I'll try the midnight thing with Tesco, although I'm not normally up that late.