Shielding

Mousey66

I received a letter from my GP  in May advising that I shield, which I did. However when shielding was paused I was very worried and anxious to return to the job I loved on an eye clinic, because of needing to use public transport. As I hadn’t been out for so long I didn’t feel safe to get on a bus. So I emailed my Trust CEO to explain how I felt, and ask if it was possible to move to my local community hospital, same trust. was passed on to a member of HR to arrange for me. Fortunately the hospital had two vacancies on the rehab ward there. So I was transferred over to there. I worked there throughout August, but didn’t enjoy the job there very much felt I’d down skilled. Some staff told me that they had had Covid patients on the ward previously and that some staff had caught it also.  Then  was on annual leave until mid September. However while on leave cases of Covid were starting to rise again in my local area, so I was then worried to return to the ward as some patients require a lot of close personal care. Also some require two staff members to assist them, so your close to them also. This worried me because of the possibility of either the patient or staff member having Covid and me catching it from them. So I let my manager there know my concerns. I was allowed to take extra leave while a post to be redeployed to which was safer for me was arranged. So I’m now in the main Trust hospital in an office based role. This does involve using a train but as they’re usually quiet I’ve felt ok using them, and feel it’s safer than being on the ward. So as we’re now back in lockdown and shielding has been reinstated I was expecting another letter, however I haven’t had one and my employer won’t allow me to shield without one. So I’ve asked to have a telephone consultation with a GP to ask if I should expect a new letter, as I’m obviously now worried to come into work. However I can’t speak to a GP unless it’s urgent only by a prebooked appointment which is next Friday., and the reception staff have told me they aren’t sending out the new letters. I have messaged a complaint to the practice as I need to know for definite before then. So after a few messages this was the last reply I had.


Have just had a discussion with Dr Johnson and we do not believe that you should be currently classed as "Clinically Extremely Vulnerable" so we doubt that you would get a letter from the Government.

Whilst you do have Asthma, it does not class as severe. In fact, we sent you a text message on 24th March stating that you were not classed as needing to be shielding.

We note, however, that you were given a Shielding Letter on 15th May 2020 by us although this does appear, in retrospect, to have been incorrect.  The Guidance at that time was constantly changing so some patients were issued letters which later Guidance then rescinded.

We suggest that should you wish to refrain from work, you take this up with your HR department and union representative. Alternatively, you could book a routine appointment with a Doctor who may consider issuing you with a sick note for anxiety or work related stress.

Thank you.
So basically I probably didn’t need to shield in the first place. So it’s all been for nothing, impacted on my mental health and anxiety and I’ve changed from a  job I enjoyed to one I don’t. I will need to return to the ward when Covid settles down again as what I’m doing now is only temporary. 

So I’m very upset about all this and need to know, is there anything I can do??

elsien

What resolution is it that you are looking for? 

The guidance to start with was quite unclear, so many people (a family member included) registered as shielding but then later found out that they did not need to. The surgery appears to have made a genuine error although you could potentially have clarified when the text and letter said different things. You could follow up on your complaint but other than an apology what outcome do you want? Getting your old job back isn't in your surgery's power to do. 

BTW - people are no longer being advised to shield, not even those in the clinically vulnerable group. You are not in that group anyway so need to follow the same guidelines as the majority of the population, many of whom are anxious but still working. I'm genuinely unclear what resolution you are looking for here. 

Mrsn

A mistake has been made and I can fully appreciate the impact you are describing it has had.

I do agree with Elsien though, what is the resolution you are looking for? If it is to return to the very original role you had I’m not convinced that will be a possibility.

Bertles

With regards to Shielding in lockdown 2, the letters are being sent out and a lot of us have also received them by email.  

Check your email for this as it is notification of Shielding for your employer.  

Just because your GP has said you shouldn't have been asked to shield does not mean you won't still be on the CEV list.

Shielding was always advisory though so it is up to you if you want to follow the advice given.

Mousey66

I also received a text from the NHS coronavirus service on the 15th of May to say I needed to shield. This was how I found out in the first place, so I rang the doctors then to ask if this was correct. They confirmed it was and said I should of received a letter 2 weeks previously to this, I never received this letter so they printed another which my partner collected.
So yes I think it is my surgery’s fault for cladding me as CEV at that time, and not telling me my shielding criteria had changed. If this hadn’t happened I’d still be working where I was originally. I feel I should be compensated because of the impact it’s had on my life.

elsien

Compensated by who? The GP surgery? The NHS?

Not going to happen. 

We were in the middle of a pandemic with surgeries being short staffed and people getting mixed messages from government about who was shielding and who wasn’t. Unfortunately that led to a mistake which had had an impact on your job role; but you were the one who asked to move jobs, twice, which was accommodated for you.
I don’t think there’s much further you can go with this. 

bradders1983

Add to that it has never been a legal requirement to shield, its always your own choice to ignore it or listen to it.

Barny1979

Conversely I have heart and lung issues which were being investigated in December and have had long-term health issues but no letter. These things happen and I decided with my work I should work from home for the long-term for my safety.

[Deleted User]

My stepdad got a second letter from GP on Friday. The letter specifically says “the decision is yours”. 

Barny1979

Did you receive the text message?

Mousey66

only the texts from the last time of shielding nothing since then.