Shielding

If you fall into this category, you are advised to observe the shielding guidance. More information about this can be found on this website: www.gov.uk/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

People falling into this extremely vulnerable group include:

  • 1. Solid organ transplant recipients.
  • 2. People with specific cancers:
    • people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
    • people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
    • people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
    • people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
    • people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
    • people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
  • 3. People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
  • 4. People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
  • 5. People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
  • 6. Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.

Shielding is for your personal protection. It is your choice to decide whether to follow the measures we advise. Individuals who have been given a prognosis of less than 6 months to live, and some others in special circumstances, could decide not to undertake shielding. This will be a deeply personal decision. We advise calling your GP or specialist to discuss this.

NHS England is sending out letters from a central directory to patients they identify to be in the above category. However, we will also be running searches on certain patient groups and you will receive a letter from us if you fall into this.

The government is helping pharmacies to deliver prescriptions. Prescriptions will continue to cover the same length of time as usual. If you do not currently have your prescriptions collected or delivered, you can arrange this by:

  • 1. Asking someone who can pick up your prescription from the local pharmacy, (this is the best option, if possible
  • 2. Contacting your pharmacy to ask them to help you find a volunteer (who will have been ID checked) or deliver it to you.

You may also need to arrange for collection or delivery of hospital specialist medication that is prescribed to you by your hospital care team.