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Original poster

Visiting Shielding and clinically vulnerable people at Christmas

78 replies

WwMILd · 25/11/2020 17:25

Have seen a few posts about having Christmas Day with people that are most at risk, might be their last Christmas etc.

Can I just say that whilst I totally understand the sentiment behind it - if they are in those groups (esp shielding), they will be more than likely undergoing regular treatment/appointments alongside similar people. That means that whilst they might be happy to take the risk, it might also have a knock on effect on others having treatment alongside them.

Just a thought....

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 26/11/2020 04:16

LangClegsInSpace Flowers for you and your mum.

How insensitive is it to tell people who have 1 last Christmas to spend it alone? Shielding is hard and I don't even live alone but people's spirits are breaking from the isolation.

iVampire · 26/11/2020 07:13

It might not be sent out on a letter, but that doesn't mean it's not happening

Letters were reissued at the start of November

A few people who got the letters were also required to continue to shield even when it paused for other CEV. We’re not all the same, but are all in priority 6 for vaccine (about 14 million people ahead of those of us who are not over 65)

premiumhob · 26/11/2020 07:35

@IHaveBrilloHair

I'm really cross at it being said that nobody is shielding.
Of course they are.

Don't be cross. I made a mistake. I acknowledged it and apologised straight away.

FuzzyPuffling · 26/11/2020 07:48

preiumhob I think the general crossness at your post is that this is the feedback we're getting from society as a whole. "There's no shielding any more, so it's all safe for everyone, so stop moaning and get on with it". Clearly this is not true in practice.. July 31st, virus very dangerous, stay in... August 1st, it's all gone away now.
People who are shielding have spent many months being othered and isolated, and with very little support ( few mouldy oranges and a pie!) and have pretty well had it by now.
If other people could just walk a mile in our shoes....

FuzzyPuffling · 26/11/2020 07:49

Sorry premuimhob this wasn't meant as a lecture for you. More a rant at the world in general.

nether · 26/11/2020 07:54

If other people could just walk a mile in our shoes....

Indeed, if only!

My least favourite current twist is 'out don't need to be higher up the immunisation list as it won't work in the immune compromised'

which is a) bollocks - it's still an unknown and b) utterly ignores that not everyone on the CEV list is immune compromised

Out of sight, out of mind?

LITHIUMcomeasUare · 26/11/2020 07:58

I am in the new shielding group again and have my up to date lighter shielding guidelines letter. I cannot shield since I have children that attend school but lucky to be in a lower infection area. I am just very careful as many have been. Fortunately no one I know or near has had Covid - thankfully

bluebuckets · 26/11/2020 08:12

Just to be clear, I am in Scotland and we actually don't have people officially shielding. We have a lot of people saying they are shielding when they never were and we have the Scottish government telling us not to shield but to be a bit more careful. Financial reasons I suppose. I'm really sensitive about shielding and I should have checked both which country was being spoken about and the rules for said country. I let my mouth run away with me because I am sick to the back teeth of hearing 'but I'm shielding' from people who don't even fall in to the lower vulnerable categories, let alone the highest one. Again, I'm sorry.

bluebuckets · 26/11/2020 08:16

Just realised I did a name change earlier!! Sorry.... off to change back

Musicalmistress · 26/11/2020 09:08

@premiumhob

Nobody is actually shielding though. This is a really important fact that half of Mumsnet seems to be missing.
@premiumhob They are in level 4 areas across Scotland.
premiumhob · 26/11/2020 09:14

They are in level 4 areas across Scotland.

Sorry, not as they were previously. It's just 'be careful' not official shielding as the government don't want to pay for it the way they did before. I think that's what irritates me about it. The sitting government provided basic food boxes to those shielded who needed the help. Now we are being left to fend for ourselves.

HazeyJaneII · 26/11/2020 09:21

Premiumhob has posted that she made a mistake believing shielding to have ended, and has apologised!

This is why people need to RTFT!

Musicalmistress · 26/11/2020 10:58

@premiumhob

They are in level 4 areas across Scotland.

Sorry, not as they were previously. It's just 'be careful' not official shielding as the government don't want to pay for it the way they did before. I think that's what irritates me about it. The sitting government provided basic food boxes to those shielded who needed the help. Now we are being left to fend for ourselves.

You're right it's not as widespread & not in the same way but in level 4 areas there are certain people being told to shield the same way they did before - virtual lockdown.
Musicalmistress · 26/11/2020 10:59

@HazeyJaneII

Premiumhob has posted that she made a mistake believing shielding to have ended, and has apologised!

This is why people need to RTFT!

I'm in the app & thread hadn't updated. No need to get your knickers in a knot.
MrsMigginsMate · 26/11/2020 11:03

If I don't leave the house for 2 weeks and get a private covid test at the end of the isolation period before visiting them then there's literally no issue. Do you seriously believe people are just waltzing into the homes of extremely vulnerable people after shopping in Tesco and having a pint with their mates? Do you really think anyone is that stupid and won't take precautions beforehand? Hmm

Redcherries · 26/11/2020 11:06

I'm shielded, my daughter goes to school, I guess I need to fuck over her education and A Levels and pull her out in case I infect someone on an appointment? Oh no, I don't have appointments, because not everyone shielded is sick.

I think its important to remember we aren't just the 'shielded' we are humans, with lives, family, friends. Stop bloody treating us like some weird sub species. Like the first few months of 'its ok, its only the old and vulnerable who will die' wasn't bad enough, like months and months stuck in our homes wasn't mentally and physically horrific for us.

Its our choice, why do people feel they have any say in it? I for one will be allowing my son time with his longterm girlfriend, I won't see anyone else as I have my family here but if I was alone then I would be bubbling faster than I can uncork a bottle of champagne.

premiumhob · 26/11/2020 11:12

You're right it's not as widespread & not in the same way but in level 4 areas there are certain people being told to shield the same way they did before - virtual lockdown.

Virtual lockdown? They are just saying be careful when you go shopping and get a fit note of your workplace cannot be made covid safe. That's nothing like we had before.

Musicalmistress · 26/11/2020 11:20

@premiumhob

You're right it's not as widespread & not in the same way but in level 4 areas there are certain people being told to shield the same way they did before - virtual lockdown.

Virtual lockdown? They are just saying be careful when you go shopping and get a fit note of your workplace cannot be made covid safe. That's nothing like we had before.

The 2 shielders I know personally have been told to stay at home as before. WFH & not to go to public places at all. In fairness though, now that I think about it, I don't know if that advice has come from their consultants rather than centrally.
QueenPaws · 26/11/2020 11:36

@premiumhob mine says you are advised not to shop, go to a pharmacy and to stay at home except for exercise and health appointments, strongly advised to WFH, if you cannot then you shouldn't attend work
So basically don't shop at all apart from online!

VaTeLaverLesMains · 26/11/2020 11:43

I'm cev and have a procedure tomorrow so have to test negative for covid today. Other patients in the unit will do the same. If not the surgeon who does lung transplantation might catch it, which would be a nightmare as not everyone fits lungs for a living.

I do think some people are prejudiced against people who are vulnerable, seeing them as 'other' or less than 'normal' people. Anyone is just one illness away from joining the cev group. You don't think it will happen to you.

If you saw me you'd think i was super fit and healthy. I'm totally not but all the crap is happening inside.

HazeyJaneII · 26/11/2020 11:49

My knickers are just fine. I just felt for Premiumhob as I could see that her earlier post was going to keep getting picked up on!

FuzzyPuffling · 26/11/2020 12:45

I am sick to the back teeth of hearing 'but I'm shielding' from people who don't even fall in to the lower vulnerable categories, let alone the highest one.

YES YES YES TO THIS. (Didn't mean to do capitals, but perhaps they are apt.) The meaning of "shielding" has been massively diluted by people appropriating it. I prefer CEV/CV.

Redcherries · 26/11/2020 13:33

Ah yes, the I'm shielded but because I decided I am people, didn't get a letter, don't have any of the conditions. I'm related to one, every opportunity to create her own drama, attention and sympathy. I would have some sympathy for her if it wasn't every single thing that she can possibly milk attention from every time. Life isn't all about you, if you had a condition that makes you CEV you would have received a letter, if you didn't then you need to speak to the DR who, if!, they agree can add you to the list. I'd be happy to swap places if I could!

GalaxyCookieCrumble · 26/11/2020 17:42

Aww sorry @premiumhob Thanks

GalaxyCookieCrumble · 26/11/2020 17:47

@LITHIUMcomeasUare

I am in the new shielding group again and have my up to date lighter shielding guidelines letter. I cannot shield since I have children that attend school but lucky to be in a lower infection area. I am just very careful as many have been. Fortunately no one I know or near has had Covid - thankfully
You can shield and take your DC out of school and they have to do remote education, check the full guidance for the reopening of schools. My son is homeschooled, they argued he had to go back until I sent the copy where if a parent is shielding, you are able to homeschool without any repercussions to yourself.