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BBC News at 10 - Latest Stats up the risk for diabetics?

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Well we're retired but both according to the letters we each received from the Government designated extremely clinically vulnerable, hence the last time we went anywhere was in March. I happened to see something somewhere telling me that the clinically extremely vulnerable would be contacted by their clinician to tell them what to do. So that's our GP then. They haven't contacted either of us since last year sometime. Don't think I'll hold my breath. Tried to book a phlebotomy appointment the other day prior to my hospital diabetes clinic appt - the only appointment available between now and the end of August is in fact a phlebotomy one on 30th July. We're not allowed out until 1st August - and the online booking calendar only goes up to 31st August - nothing at all in September. So what are all the 10 GPS at least 4 nurses, 1 dedicated phlebotomist or the regional ultrasound personnel doing then?

Has the place closed down?
 
scientist, groups have issued their concerns and warnings but with the likes of Cummings on the advise board they are just refusing to listen and with Johnson relaxing everything and stating the virus will be gone by Xmas we can basically forget it, it seems to be a case go out there and if you get the virus then be it.

as far as the government are concerned all they want is for people to go back to work regardless that the virus is still out there.

Notice was issued quite a while ago that shielding was ending full stop on August 1st
 
Thanks Lucy.

Diabetes UK campaigns team:

It’s certainly going to be a campaign that is going to require a lot of pressure as the response from the government has been slow. We are working now with a coalition of charities including Parkinsons UK, Age UK and others to try and increase the pressure. We are supporting a parliamentary petition https://petition.parliament.uk/peti...k&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn to have the Furlough scheme extended for the most vulnerable people. A fantastic supporter in Scotland Kirsty Jarvis was able to ask a question at People’s PMQs on the other week as well.

Based on how long it has taken to get responses to some of our recent correspondence to government departments it may be a few more weeks before we have a formal response from the government. But in the meantime we are working with people living with diabetes and other charity partners to keep up the pressure.


So it’s not much of an ‘outcome’ as such at this stage though work is still happening to get a response - sorry it’s not clearer news at the moment.
 
Nobody in the world can tell you or anyone else that there's no risk in anything, ever. Assess the situation that you are personally in. If you are not comfortable with something then don't do it.
That's very true but I do think more can be done to help us all in this. We have a bundle of stats that could be used by the government but I guess they prefer everyone to risk everything to save the economy instead regardless of their personal risk. Since I have received no further assistance from them and so I have to assume the worst case scenario awaits me if I am asked to return and make my decision from there. At the very start they wanted the R number low for a safe return and now they have failed. I wish I lived in Scotland or Ireland now.

But when my wife is still working it will be difficult for me not to return to work because she will be left taking all the risk (although she doesn't have a health condition thankfully). None of this is easy but it could have been made a lot easier by Boris and Co.
 
Diabetes UK campaigns team:

It’s certainly going to be a campaign that is going to require a lot of pressure as the response from the government has been slow. We are working now with a coalition of charities including Parkinsons UK, Age UK and others to try and increase the pressure. We are supporting a parliamentary petition https://petition.parliament.uk/peti...k&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn to have the Furlough scheme extended for the most vulnerable people. A fantastic supporter in Scotland Kirsty Jarvis was able to ask a question at People’s PMQs on the other week as well.

Based on how long it has taken to get responses to some of our recent correspondence to government departments it may be a few more weeks before we have a formal response from the government. But in the meantime we are working with people living with diabetes and other charity partners to keep up the pressure.


So it’s not much of an ‘outcome’ as such at this stage though work is still happening to get a response - sorry it’s not clearer news at the moment.
Great news about the coalition and will done Kirsty!

I understand Boris's approach but shouldn't everything be put in place first this time and local lockdowns tested before sending people back? I think he moves much too fast all of the time at great risk to us. Before returning to work I need to see how all this localisation is going to work for those with conditions.

Thanks for this Lucy. Is there anything others can do besides signing. Unfortunately many including myself have been downgraded to moderate risk. Presumably this partition won't apply to people who aren't shielding?
 
Well, I'm T1, 67 years old, I have mild asthma (now that tree pollens have disappeared), slightly overweight, in a wheelchair because of PLS, ulcerative colitis and chronic pancreatitis. Full house of autoimmune illnesses. Tomorrow, I go the Royal Blackburn Hospital for a CT scan on my pancreas and other bits inside the abdomen.

Blackburn has now overtaken Leicester for the rate of increase of Covid infections. Both populations, of course, have a high proportion of South Asian background. What would you do?

Well, I'll be going in with a hospital standard mask. I will steer clear of anybody else, until I reach a guaranteed sterile and cleansed area. I guess I'll have to strip down, but I won't do that until I'm assured the chair I use has been sterilised. I'll be using hand cleanser constantly, and not allow anyone to touch my wheelchair. When I get home, I will sterilise my hands before going in, go into the bedroom and strip my clothes off completely and chuck them all in the wash, sterilise my hands again and get dressed, safe in our bubble.

I may be paranoid, and all that may seem over the top, but I'll be around to crow about it come next spring.
 
Great news about the coalition and will done Kirsty!

I understand Boris's approach but shouldn't everything be put in place first this time and local lockdowns tested before sending people back? I think he moves much too fast all of the time at great risk to us. Before returning to work I need to see how all this localisation is going to work for those with conditions.

Thanks for this Lucy. Is there anything others can do besides signing. Unfortunately many including myself have been downgraded to moderate risk. Presumably this partition won't apply to people who aren't shielding?

I *think* the petition is about people who are clinically vulnerable (shielding or not) being able to return safely to work - so would include people with diabetes who aren’t shielding but who are unable to adequately follow social distancing and hygiene guidance in their workplace for whatever reason - which is the advice for those with underlying conditions. In all honestly though I’m not sure, so will see if I can find out anything further about what else can be done.
 
Well we're retired but both according to the letters we each received from the Government designated extremely clinically vulnerable, hence the last time we went anywhere was in March. I happened to see something somewhere telling me that the clinically extremely vulnerable would be contacted by their clinician to tell them what to do. So that's our GP then. They haven't contacted either of us since last year sometime. Don't think I'll hold my breath. Tried to book a phlebotomy appointment the other day prior to my hospital diabetes clinic appt - the only appointment available between now and the end of August is in fact a phlebotomy one on 30th July. We're not allowed out until 1st August - and the online booking calendar only goes up to 31st August - nothing at all in September. So what are all the 10 GPS at least 4 nurses, 1 dedicated phlebotomist or the regional ultrasound personnel doing then?

Has the place closed down?
That really is the pits trophywench. I don't get it. When the virus hit you couldn't contact anyone very easily. But I find that it's a doddle contacting my surgery now. Perhaps they're preparing for the next pandemic earlier this time.
 
Well, I'm T1, 67 years old, I have mild asthma (now that tree pollens have disappeared), slightly overweight, in a wheelchair because of PLS, ulcerative colitis and chronic pancreatitis. Full house of autoimmune illnesses. Tomorrow, I go the Royal Blackburn Hospital for a CT scan on my pancreas and other bits inside the abdomen.

Blackburn has now overtaken Leicester for the rate of increase of Covid infections. Both populations, of course, have a high proportion of South Asian background. What would you do?

Well, I'll be going in with a hospital standard mask. I will steer clear of anybody else, until I reach a guaranteed sterile and cleansed area. I guess I'll have to strip down, but I won't do that until I'm assured the chair I use has been sterilised. I'll be using hand cleanser constantly, and not allow anyone to touch my wheelchair. When I get home, I will sterilise my hands before going in, go into the bedroom and strip my clothes off completely and chuck them all in the wash, sterilise my hands again and get dressed, safe in our bubble.

I may be paranoid, and all that may seem over the top, but I'll be around to crow about it come next spring.
No not paranoid. I would be doing the same and a space suite will be very useful right now.
 
Diabetes UK campaigns team:

It’s certainly going to be a campaign that is going to require a lot of pressure as the response from the government has been slow. We are working now with a coalition of charities including Parkinsons UK, Age UK and others to try and increase the pressure. We are supporting a parliamentary petition https://petition.parliament.uk/peti...k&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn to have the Furlough scheme extended for the most vulnerable people. A fantastic supporter in Scotland Kirsty Jarvis was able to ask a question at People’s PMQs on the other week as well.

Based on how long it has taken to get responses to some of our recent correspondence to government departments it may be a few more weeks before we have a formal response from the government. But in the meantime we are working with people living with diabetes and other charity partners to keep up the pressure.


So it’s not much of an ‘outcome’ as such at this stage though work is still happening to get a response - sorry it’s not clearer news at the moment.
It's cracking stuff! Anything I can do then let me know.
 
I *think* the petition is about people who are clinically vulnerable (shielding or not) being able to return safely to work - so would include people with diabetes who aren’t shielding but who are unable to adequately follow social distancing and hygiene guidance in their workplace for whatever reason - which is the advice for those with underlying conditions. In all honestly though I’m not sure, so will see if I can find out anything further about what else can be done.
Perhaps the partition was started before the group containing diabetics was downgraded to medium risk by the government.
 
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