Some conditions have been removed from shielding list

[AKissAndASmile]

I'd not heard about this and not seen any threads about it on here

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/27/phone-texts-notify-cancer-transplant-and-asthma-patients-they-are-off-shielding-list#maincontent

@aragog - my DH has just had the one about the bins! Luckily I've been the designated bin taker-outer for the last 10 weeks 🙄...

I’m not sure it’s conditions that have been removed.

From a charity website for one of the shield conditions, there was a strong assumption that it was people who should never have been on the list in the first place who are being taken off it.

The vast majority of them being those with cancers at a stage of treatment which means they are vulnerable, not exceptionally vulnerable

I haven't had any shielding texts for ages now, had loads at the beginning back in march and April so very confused others are still getting them. Haven't heard anything about people being taken off the list. I'd be delighted to be, but severe lung diseases (not asthma) probably wouldn't be taken off at the moment I suppose.

Anyone else not been receiving texts recently?

I haven’t received any texts for ages

Including not receiving the recent one which had told some people they are off the list

I have a leukaemia which British Society of Haematologists argues might not need shielding (though data is sparse). AFAIK all forms of blood cancer at any stage of treatment remain shielded

I had a load of texts initially in March but nothing since. I've not been told not to shield so I'm still following the guidance.

I haven't had any contact at all from my clinical team at the hospital and I've had one courtesy call from the GP surgery about three weeks ago checking I was ok and still following the advice.

Wait, I have severe asthma and I never got a freedom text. Is this because I'm on tiotropium which is also a COPD drug?

I received 11 texts in the first few weeks but nothing for ages now. I’m shielding for severe asthma and take tiotropium.

I gather than quite a few people with asthma of varying degrees have received shielding letters - my colleague did, and her asthma is not severe - her GP then told her to ignore her letter because it had been sent by mistake!

My last message was 3rd April?

(It's toddler DD shielding but obviously she doesn't have a phone so messages come to me!)

@Truist - I am on biologics and had last text on 7 May telling me to shield until 30 June. Would be lovely to hear otherwise but nothing as yet.

I wonder if it's a quirk of mass texting algorithms that we didn't get a text @CatkinToadflax. It would be bloody amazing if new research has shown us to be less vulnerable than was calculated.

I’ve just checked with DH and he hasn’t had anything but he’s had a kidney Tx so he probably won’t change?

Hearing by text is pretty crappy isn’t it?

What the message about bins @Aragog? DH says bin night is the only time he gets to go out, should he not be?

@Truist and @Tollergirl being on just bios or bios and a dmard alone was never shielding in the first place unless you had extra risk factors.

I never had a shielding letter or text and I'm on bios and dmards.

I was blanket shielded and after a telephone consultation got myself removed as actually low risk, everyone with the code for my condition (sarcoidosis) in their nhs notes got the letter

@Thighmageddon I'm on methotrexate (only) for rheumatoid disease, and was sent a shielding letter. I thought it was pretty odd, but went along with it initially.

I queried it with my GP and have now been put into the 'moderately vulnerable' category. Which is great, as I wanted to get back to work.

Sauvignon- the bin message:

@FourTeaFallOut agreed. I think tiotropium is considered fairly ‘hard core’ as asthma drugs go, so I’d be staggered if you or I were suddenly considered lower risk. I think I’ll carry on shielding until I know otherwise for absolute certain - if I get a text telling me otherwise I might check with my GP or resp consultant first. Hope you’re staying well FourTea.

My 5 year old is shielding with a liver transplant and we haven't had a text.
He's been hospitalised with influenza A and with cold sores in the past so not a chance I'm 'unshielding' him.
I've deregistered him from school anyway but are they going to expect liver transplant children to just go back to school too?

I received the shielding letter at the beginning of April (well actually I received three from two different departments ) My GP definitely has me registered.

I have not heard anything else. I have registered twice online on the government website - the first time I didn't get any confirmation and the second time I had the "we received your registration" but nothing else since. I have tried to ring and it doesn't recognise my (definitely correct!) NHS number so disconnects the call. I am not getting priory slots (apart from Ocado as a regular customer anyway).

I have written to my MP. What else can I do. I feel so helpless and so down about this - not just the shielding which is bad enough but the total fucking lack of any more information or contact or even acknowledgment from the government. There is no employment protection for us or our households. We have been ignored. I seriously hope we get some more information or updates soon.

I would fucking love to be judged not as risk enough to shield but I'm realistic that won't happen. If we are told that shielding is extended and I am still not receiving any further contact or a response from my MP I seriously fear I will tip over the edge.

We are going to be left behind when the rest of society starts opening up and no one gives a fuck as far as I can see.

I'm good thanks @CatkinToadflax Although I've got a bad case of cabin fever which may be fuelling my optimism! I will wait for a considered medical opinion before I throw all caution to the wind.

And to depress me even further, my shielding neighbours have a food box delivered every week - which I think would be brilliant if they weren't having fucking parties in the back garden and clearly don't give a single fuck about shielding.

I feel like nicking the box off their doorstep

Thanks @Aragog, he’s going to regret telling me off for ‘interfering’ with the bins this morning

I just assumed the bin message was for people in flats who might have to take rubbish down to a communal bin. Or maybe those who live on a street with a lot of foot traffic. There's nothing significantly risky about a standard bin on a suburban drive that can't be managed by washing your hands, surely?

I haven't had a text for ages.
At the start of this I never really knew why I was told to shield as I have several conditions. I was on antibody treatment for cancer which has been stopped. I was on hydroxychloroquine for RA which according to the arthritis website doesn't require shielding. That has now stopped but I'm on steroids instead. I have mild asthma but take seretide 250, mild aspergillosis and mild bronchiectasis.
I don't feel ill, I'm fitter than I've been for years and yet I don't know how I would fare with covid.
I'm waiting until more guidance comes out about shielding then going to speak to GP.

I wasn't taken off the list for brittle asthma I had a text extending my shielding.
I think steroids play a role I recently had a hospital appointment by phone and was told my steroid courses on their own would require shielding because of the dose.

I had the bin message too. Going out to the bins is the only exercise I get! No one else is near my bins though so it isn't an issue and I get my dds to put the rubbish and bins out as part of their chores sometimes.