AIBU to think this (RE shielding letter)

[Hendrixrain]

AIBU to think that if you receive a 12 week shielding letter from the NHS because you’re considered medically vulnerable then you should be low priority if you choose to ignore this and contract the virus?

FIL has been an idiotic sod since this began and I’ve given up with it. He has just recovered from cancer and is immunosuppressed from the treatments. Received his letter 2 weeks ago and has continued to work as normal in a non essential job. Going in and out of multiple properties a day in different counties. It’ll be his own fault if he falls ill and he shouldn’t be further straining the COVID wards.

How would you prove it though? Just end up being a witch hunt

Well it’s not compulsory. He’s an adult and if that is the risk assessment he’s made for himself there’s not much you can do.

He’s as entitled to healthcare as much as everyone else.

It’s hypothetical of course and wouldn’t work unless patient was honest about their movements. I.e. nurse asks ‘have you been shielding per the instructions from your letter’ and they answer no honestly. Mainly just my feelings on the matter. Anyone who puts themselves at risk after being told to shield by the NHS are selfish idiots imo

I understand how frustrating that must be when you stand to loose a close family member. But it’s such a mean way to talk about people. Of course he’s being an idiot but it doesn’t mean he deserves to be left to die. Of course he may be low priority anyway if the wards have to make hard decisions but it’s just unnecessary on your part to be almost wishing that on him. Just because someone else is being an idiot doesn’t mean you need to be.

I think it’s an awful way to think and very discriminatory. But your wish has been granted.

Anyone vulnerable due to a health condition already is a lower priority for intensive care according to the BMA regardless of whether they caught the virus while shielding or not:

“During the peak of a pandemic, doctors are likely to be required to assess a person’s eligibility for treatment based on a ‘capacity to benefit quickly’ basis. As such, some of the most unwell patients may be denied access to treatment such as intensive care or artificial ventilation. This will inevitably be indirectly discriminatory against both the elderly and those with long-term health conditions relevant to their ability to benefit quickly, with the latter being denied access to life-saving treatment as a result of their pre-existing health problems.”
www.bma.org.uk/media/2219/bma-covid-19-long-form-faqs.pdf

Count yourself bloody lucky you don’t have such a condition OP. I have - not through lifestyle , but through aggressive cancer.
Go look at yourself in the mirror, - if you can.

My son in law is supposed to be shielding but he was going stircrazy. He's been going on walks with DD and DGS . They need to pay through the town to the beach but they say it's empty as most shops are shut .

Many cannot afford to shield
Many don't live in household where they are able to shield
Many don't have the mental wellness to alone in a room for 12 weeks

Th e NHS treats everyone. Young, old, fat, thin, male, female, smoker non smoker.

Shielding is easier for some more than others. I am lucky in that I'm shielding in a home with my family who are also shielding. When the people in my family start going back to work and school I will be asked to keep three feet away from them at all times. I won't be able to sleep in the same bed as my husband, I won't be able to hold his hand, I won't be able sit on the couch with him. I won't be able to hug my children or kiss them before bed, I won't be able to snuggle next to them and read to them or watch a movie with them, I won't be able to help them or give them comfort if they hurt themselves. I don't think I can do it. Would you jettison me to the back of the queue for my lack of compliance?

Anyone who puts themselves at risk after being told to shield by the NHS are selfish idiots imo Well the same can be said about anyone who doesn't exercise, who eats a poor diet, who drinks every night, who smokes ... Few of us are entirely guiltless.

Personally I've interpreted the NHS letter as "your prognosis is poor so you have zero chance of treatment if you become ill, so you'd better make sure you don't catch it"

FourTea very eloquently put.

I don't think people really understand the reality of shielding.

To be fair to your FIL, the guidance document on shielding does say that the advice is for your benefit but you can choose to ignore the advice if you wish.

For a lot of people, work is very important to their mental health and wellbeing.

Assuming his work productivity was affected by his cancer treatment, he may feel that he wants to work because his mental health would be damaged too much if he "rests" any longer.

Maybe he knows things about his diagnosis that he hasn't shared with you, or anyone else, and he is making his choice based on this.

Sorry @ FourTeaFallout :

It's not 3 feet - it's 6 1/2 feet ie. 2 metres.😥😥😥

I know, because I'm doing it.

Oh yeah, it's three paces away, isn't it? - I must have revised it down as the weeks have gone by. I should really get that nailed before lockdown is lifted. I'm so sorry WingedHarpy, it must be a nightmare.

OP the NHS advises people not to smoke too - but last time i checked they were still treating people with diseases linked to the effects if smoking as well as those suffering from the effects of many other lifestyle choices. Why do you think they should single out people who catch Covid 19 because they chose to ignorr some advice?

Its not a law he can make his iwn decision.
Nothing to do.with you or anyone else.
Proper shielding means inside the house too if relatives are not staying inside with you. He has made his chouce which suits hi. I would thonk.by now he wants control back in his life to live it as he choses, to work and go about as normally as possible now not be dictated to by yet another disease. Shielding is horrific if you live with family i wouldnt wish it on anyone so maybe read exactly what it entails before you judge.
Anyone who puts themselves at risk after being told to shield by the NHS are selfish idiots
You should respect his choice not bitch about it and wish him harm. What a hortible post. Nobody is told to do anything btw. Read the damm letter its 16 pages long!!

Don't think it so much a case of the NHS not treating you, it's more likely if you're one of the people on the shielding list they can't treat you, because there's nothing they can do, for example, there wouldn't be much point in putting me on a ventilator, the chances of any quality of life afterwards are virtually zero.