Why was there no contingency plans for the disabled? Care homes etc?

[Cherryghost]

Following the sad story of the man who was disabled who starved to death who followed the instructions to stay at home and starved.
Why was there no contingency plans for checking in on disabled people?
Why was care home guidance ridiculous in the case of pandemics?
I think it said in April they didn't need PPE nor were people tested before being sent to care homes in the height of a pandemic.

It really is disgusting that no plans were made to help the vulnerable

I agree Hooves. In my area the volunteers were all DBS checked but I know that didnt happen everywhere & I heard stories of older ppl being targeted by ppl claiming to be volunteers

Volunteers should be an adjunct too proper care provision not a substitute for it

Our local council didn't make contact with OH (shielding due to extremely clinically vulnerable) for about 6 weeks, and only contacted MIL after 2 months. That was despite us registering both online.

Same with GP surgery - no contact at all from them except for when we contacted them. Same with oncology dept for OH's cancer - took 2 months of phone calls/messages to get someone to call back.

I think it's showed that you really have to push and harrass the authorities to get them to do anything. You really can't just sit back and wait for them, which unfortunately maybe is what some old/disabled people did.

@Phoenix21

Our communities do and should have responsibility, but if we want to keep vulnerable people safe and alive we need a functioning safety net.

@labyrinthloafer - I agree fully.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras it was shameful for the U.K. to have to ask volunteers to plug public service gulfs. To plug a gap in a pandemic is fine but in my opinion and experience relying on unvetted volunteers to provide assistance to vulnerable people is madness.

I know a totally unsuitable man (DV/aggression) who was accepted to assist. Luckily he (among others I know) were never given any tasks.

Exactly. Who were the volunteers answerable to? You can't expect very vulnerable, housebound people to be reliant on ad hoc volunteers.

Why was there no contingency plans for checking in on disabled people?
Why was care home guidance ridiculous in the case of pandemics?

Because most people and certainly the government aren’t interested.

DH is shielding and he got precious little help, despite registering him I still couldn’t get a supermarket delivery slot. I could shop but was working all hours as an NHS senior nurse, it was a scary time.

Zombiefan there really wasn't plans. My son is disabled,12 weeks into the lockdown we received a letter with info on where to go for help with food etc if shielding. This was the kind of info that was needed at the start of lockdown not 12 weeks after.
No one has phoned to check in with us and if anything happened to me my son would not survive.
How many people have had their carers become ill and they are left?

Cherryghost I was in the same situation as you but we got a call from a nurse after 1-2 weeks, luckily we didn't require any help at that time.

But not sure what you think the government could have done? Do you think the UK should have an army of ten million paid helpers trained and ready to swing into action any time a once in a hundred years pandemic comes along?
If anything happened to me I would hope family, friend, neighbours, work colleges or a.n.other would check up on us. You just cant rely on the state to provide a 100% safety net, it cant.

THIS is what people should be referring to when we talk about a ‘new normal’. No one should ever be in a position like this ever ever again, despite what happens.

Totally agree with Ihaveshitneighbours!! Disabled and older people are at the bottom of society’s pecking order. Utterly disgraceful and shameful in 2020.

Hi please could I have the Tesco extremly vulnerable phone number please

Hi, you've posted on an old thread - you might be better to start your own.