Confused

tracey148

I have PSA and take Methotrexate and Amgevita, in the last lock down i received several letters advising me to stay at home these where the basis of letting my employers know i was shielding, this lock down ive received nothing and as such my employers are trying to put me in higher traffic areas where people arent social distancing or im dealing with more people, this is starting to affect my health as im stressing out tryin to explain to my employers that im vulnerable, there not bothered, the NHS website is confusing as it says CEV people should not work but other sites say you can, i dont know who to speak to to get some clarification, im i meant to be staying home, or going to work?

Shell_H

Hi @tracey148 - Welcome to the online community!

You were advised to shield during the last lockdown, but with this new lockdown you're not sure about the rules and your work is pressuring you to do things you are not comfortable doing.

I've checked the GOV guidelines, and if you are deemed "clinically vulnerable" you are supposed to be working from home, and if you can't then you are supposed to not work during this lockdown. If you received a letter during the last lockdown advising you are "clinically extremely vulnerable" then this applies to you. Here is the link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

From what I read they haven't sent out new letters - you will just have been "advised in the past". So your old letter should count for this. Either way, those on immunosuppression therapies are counted as extremely vulnerable.

In addition, there shouldn't be any place where people aren't social distancing. Wearing a facemask is law inside now in most places. You haven't stated what kind of business you are in, but your employer should be following the Covid secure guidelines for your type of business to keep all employees safe:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

If your employer is causing you or other employees to work in a way which is not safe or following the correct covid guidelines, and they are ignoring you when you have raised this as an issue, then you can report them to your local council and to the HSE. Have a look here for more information on this: https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns.htm

I hope this helps - have a look around the site and see if anyone else has more information. Do let us know how this goes!

Nice to meet you,

Shell

frogmorton

Hi @Tracey51

You should get a letter people on the British Lung Foundation forum have been getting them, (a lot be email so check your email) and it does say they don't have to work and can use the letter as evidence of this.

I hope, if you are in the current very high risk category, you get yours soon.

Sasha

I work for the NHS and I know from my patients the letters are coming just taking longer this time.

If you shielded before you should shield again.

Stay safe and don’t take any risks.

You could probably get the okay from your GP to start shielding straight away.

Mike1

Latest guidance = https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19