Just received a shielding letter but no one knows why!!

[theviewfromhalfwaydown]

I’m freaking out a bit that there’s something wrong with me I don’t know about. I received a shielding letter but have no idea why I have it. I’m slightly overweight but haven’t been weighed by a dr in 10years and that was just after I’d given birth to my youngest. I have no underlying health conditions I know about and I’m only 38. All I can think of is that I had gestational diabetes but that was years ago. I’ve already had the first jab as I work in healthcare but I’m worried they know something I don’t. I’m not going to shield as I don’t think I need to and I want to work but it’s still thrown me quite a bit.

Yes I think it may be a combination of Past GD + another factor (like weight or postcode)

but it seems Past GD shouldn’t have been included as a factor at all, only Current GD should have

@Monsterpage

Can someone tell me how I get priority for home delivery? I am the only adult who can go the shopping and I drive there as I have been unable to get a slot that is not either 6am or 10pm?

The shielding list in the spring was shared with the supermarkets, the supermarkets then contacted customers.

I shop with Tesco and the slots for shielders just show up as an extra tab alongside the normal hourly and flexible slots.

So how do they go about undoing this? Do they need to make sure that those they are removing from the list haven’t in fact gone on to develop type 2 diabetes (being at higher risk of doing so), for example if a normal test result from recently is on file, or indeed those with past GD who are unknowingly pregnant (so at risk of currently having GD)?

This seems to be a bit of an ethical minefield and a sorry mess. I pity the GPs who may be asked to go in and review/amend notes individually when there are probably far more important things for them to do.

@FlossyJones Very true. Since diabetes can develop relatively quickly too; there’s no guarantee those with a clear hba1c within the year are still healthy.

I had GD a few years ago, now have autoimmune arthritis (and am obese and at pre diabetic!) and no shielding letter.

I have been booked for my jab though.

@WombatChocolate

I find this all rather shocking. A life-changing email/letter arrives telling people to shield, but co gains no information about their personal reasons, but info to call the surgery. When people call the surgery, no-one knows either and some receptionists even say on here 'don't call the surgery...we don't know and we are too busy to answer all thesE calls when we can't explain it'

It's a shit show. People are terrified about the co sequences for their lives if shielding and the fact they are now seen as at significant risk....but can't get answers.

Actual GPs (not receptionists) will be able to delve into the files and with medical knowledge spot the reason that are likely, even though they haven't been informed of the reason for each patient, because the algorithm just reveals those at risk, not their specific reasons, but this takes time and probably an individual appointment with someone asking for the info...all clearly at a time when they do t have that time.

But I do t think it's acceptable when people get these distressing emails and letters to be simply told 'we don't know why' and that's the end of the info. People need to have a chance to find out why. The fact the system has allowed the info to go out to patients (I understand it's to reduce risk by getting them to shield ASAP) when GPs have no further info than the patient does, is pretty crap really.

Ultimately even if this a huge cluster fuck, patients have no option but to contact their GP and GPs have no choice but to deal with that.

Thats your bottomline.

The government actually managing the situation would have been preferable, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I suppose it depends how many are affected. As there isn't an issue with supply (touching wood) and vaccine centres are doing loads a day, I guess it depends whether the impact to the roll out is greater than the impact on the GPs time to try and resolve it as to what they will do. Plenty of healthy people i know in their 30s in a particular area were offered the jab and all happily took it without questioning.

@Plutoh

I suppose it depends how many are affected. As there isn't an issue with supply (touching wood) and vaccine centres are doing loads a day, I guess it depends whether the impact to the roll out is greater than the impact on the GPs time to try and resolve it as to what they will do. Plenty of healthy people i know in their 30s in a particular area were offered the jab and all happily took it without questioning.

I think the bigger problem is the additional advice and rights that accompany shielding, e.g advice to work from home and eligibility for statutory sick pay. If it was just the vaccine I’d agree that it’s probably less labour intensive to ignore the mess - but employers won’t be happy tomorrow if we were all calling in to say we’re shielding when we don’t actually need to be!

[quote QueenPaw]@longestlurkerever that's the same as everyone ECV. None of us knew we would be ECV/shielding until we were told, now it's just that they know more risk factors so they're trying to give people employer protection and get them earlier vaccine dates [/quote]
QueenPaw. Yes, I appreciate that, it must have been a massive shock for everyone being told they were ECV. I suppose all I meant was that the least you expect is a reason that makes sense eg "you have had an organ transplant, that makes you more vulnerable". I do know people with more borderline conditions (severe asthma for example) who had conversations with their GP about their personal risk. Being told "oh by the way you're ECV but no one knows why" is a bit odd.

Very good point @FlossyJones, absolutely then I agree they should look into it.

Interestingly I am wondering if any psychological issues have also resulted in these letters. Has anyone been prescribed anti anxieties or sedatives before for severe anxiety / depression, who also received a shielding letter today? As well as high BMI, GD.. it could all add up.

I've had a shielding email today too

Had GD many moons ago as well

So strange!!

@doireallyneedaname I take meds for an anxiety disorder too - surely that can't be related though, can it?

@doireallyneedaname

Interestingly I am wondering if any psychological issues have also resulted in these letters. Has anyone been prescribed anti anxieties or sedatives before for severe anxiety / depression, who also received a shielding letter today? As well as high BMI, GD.. it could all add up.

Interesting.... I was prescribed Sertraline last year - I stopped taking it but it is still on my record as that I am taking it for some reason - I have told the GP this is not the case. My BMI is 26.9. Had GD in 2016. Postcode is in probably the most deprived area in London. Oh and have asthma and use both blue and brown inhalers.

The new list includes “severe mental health” but it’s plausible that if it’s medicated and alongside historic GD, high BMI etc it could trigger the letter?

Haven’t read the whole thread so I’m sure this has been said, but I think it’s because there has been a massive piece of Government funded research looking at those who died from or had Covid badly and their personal and medical history. Those with some of those risk factors will be advised to shelf and supported financially. I can’t remember where I read it but it would be New Scientist, BBC or the Guardian/Independent I would imagine. My understanding is that it’s a preventative measure.
If lots of people who have had the email had GD then may be that has been shown to be a risk factor? No idea though.

*shield.

Thanks for all your replies everyone. Bit of an update I just got an email from my doctors saying this:

It appears the tool that the National scoring system is using is very complex and is adding the code to patient notes which covers a "range of risk". I can see no reason why you need to shield.

We will review all the notes of those patients where the code has been added (I think you score low) and will call you in for a vaccine when it is your turn.

So looks like I was panicking for nothing. Thanks again everyone.

Am I being a bit thick here, or is it not the case that you only have GD while you're pregnant? Then either you get better or it hangs around and becomes regular ol' Type 2. So... if you actually currently have GD then you are by definition pregnant and shouldn't be having the vaccine anyway? And if you used to have GD but got better, then you actually don't have an underlying health condition.

Feel sure I'm missing something but am so surrounded by small children today that my poor brain can't work out what!

@CrackOpenTheGin. well said!

I received one too - my BMI had never been over 30, I had GD with my eldest who is nearly 8 - have no idea why this was received. I have contacted my surgery as it states on the email that you can and they have no clue either 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for the update. So you are not going to shield then I guess? I reckon the doctor be giving you a note overturning the algorithm.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/invited-covid-vaccine-because-nhs-19857990

Just make sure you all get booked in for your vaccines before you ask to be taken off the shielding list (if that’s a thing). You might as well get some benefit from this shitshow.

@CrackOpenTheGin we would need to get both doses before we can ask to be taken off the list. That means you would need to shield yourself for those 3 months at least I think.