Shielding letter

[Bubblebu]

I have cancer, have had chemotherapy and surgery but still waiting to have radiotherapy - I registered with HMRC to obtain a shielding letter weeks ago and have chased them up again today but still heard nothing at all and not received a shielding letter. I have assumed I am in the very vulnerable category but I have not got a shielding letter- my boss (I am on sick leave) asked me to send in a copy of my shielding letter.

If you are in the vulnerable category have you received a letter confirming this and if yes how quickly did it come? Is it from the NHS or from the Government?

Mine came 1st April from the NHS

I think you should chase your consultant / oncology team as mine came from the team I am under at the hospital.

Mine (dated 17 April) didn't arrive- i had to get a friend to collect a copy from my surgery.

thank you for your replies Summer

I had to chase up the GP for a family member and it eventually came dated with just ‘April 2020’

I’d contact your GP

Is it because you are not currently having chemotherapy so are unlikely to be immunosuppressed? I would have thought it is your GP who should be answering this or your oncology consultant.

I had two letters - I think one had come from the hospital and one from the GPs . Then a follow up letter from the local council and phonecall from the GP. I would give your GP a ring.

I'm on Imraldi and a reducing dose of prednisolone (down to 5mg with 3 days to go)

I didn't register for anything. I got a letter from NHS Scotland about shielding around the middle of April. As I had contuing going into work until they basically locked the doors and had been in close contact with a colleague who is certain she and her husband had Covid 19 and since lockdown have been following the standard social distancing rules the advice is a bit bolting the door after the horse has bolted.

Mine still hasn't arrived, I have spoken to my dr and confirmed that I should have had one. It was being resent earlier this week, but no sign yet.

Do you agree that breast cancer should be in the vulnerable category or have I (wrongly) assumed that to be the case? I had just assumed that as I was just finishing chemo and was due to start radiotherapy that I should be in the vulnerable category. What do you think?

There is a difference between vulnerable and shielding , you need to speak to either your GP or consultant to see if you fall into the shielding category .

My shielding letter came last week. I have Addison’s disease, asthma, microprolactinoma, kidney issues etc etc. I am in a Facebook group with others with similar conditions and their letters are either still arriving or haven’t come yet. I think there’s a huge backlog of letters to go out.

@Bagelsandbrie , do you mind me asking which condition has pushed you into the shielding category as I have addisons , asthma and a few other conditions and I’ve heard nothing .

You need to speak to your oncologist. Your blood counts may have recovered enough that you dont need to shield.

I got my letter on 1st april because of asthma and respiratory problems- neither would have pushed me into the group on their own but in combination they do.

I got my first letter from the NHS in late March, and a second letter from the DHSC/MHCLG in early April, and phone call from my GP in early April as well. Lots of people got missed though, probably best to check with your GP.

My mil checked with her gp as she had heard nothing. She is 82, has COPD, insulin dependent diabetes, angina and high blood pressure. The doctor she spoke to said she didn't need to be on the list as her COPD is not that bad and she can go for a walk! She gets breathless bringing in her post. We are pretty sure they forgot her and are now covering up.

She has not been out of her house for two months because she was ill before all this kicked off. I know people who have had letters because they have asthma but are not currently needing any treatment. It does seem very subjective.

My mum only received one last week. It seems to have been triggered by her requesting a repeat prescription.

The list of conditions to get a letter is pretty specific. It says 'people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy'. Possibly if your chemo is finished, you are less vulnerable and don't need to shield.

I'd kill to be able to go for a walk. As it is I haven't left the house for weeks, and won't be able to until the end of June. And I hate being dependant on people to get me things I need.

Is it because you are not currently having chemotherapy so are unlikely to be immunosuppressed?

I haven't had immunosuppressants for months but still got a letter as all patients in the unit were flagged up to get one. I am not shielding as am very low risk but i only got my letter a week ago.

perhaps I should have been more persistent with my GP. The GP has moved totally to phone appointments and when I had to have my last cancer injection last month I had to have it on the back seat of my car in the car park with the nurse in full PPE - a bit of a shock. So maybe I have been backward in coming forward regarding asking for a shielding letter

Yes you should be op. The meds can affect you for a while after you stop taking them. Nobody seems to test immunity levels afterwards (my hosp Dr told me this when i phoned to query the letter) so they cover all bases as they just dont know how vulnerable people are.
I would call your hosp team and ask to speak to your Dr.

My mum’s was sent to her GP, it is being forwarded to her.

@Floralnomad I’m not entirely sure to be honest!

Asthma uk has a list of the medications and inhalers on their website that make someone more vulnerable but I’m not sure re shielding.

I take Seretide 250mg, various extra doses of steriods for asthma and with my Addisons I take daily life long steroids for that. I take daily long term antibiotics for recurrent kidney infections. I guess it’s the combination that tipped it over!