Disabled people cut off from vital supplies due to panic buying

[Northerner]

Disabled people are being left cut off from vital supplies due to the coronavirus pandemic, as charities warn of a rising number of calls from worried individuals who are struggling.

It comes as Sainsbury’s said it would allocate specific hours for vulnerable and elderly patients to do their shopping and prioritise delivery slots for them.

People with disabilities have contacted the Guardian to say they are not able to get their supermarket food deliveries due to panic buying and stockpiling of goods, which has increased demand on supermarkets amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A number of people have also struggled to get vital medical supplies, with a woman who has muscular dystrophy unable to find any non-latex gloves for suctioning her airway. She had to pay £70 to get them from Amazon.

Disabled people cut off from vital supplies due to panic buying

People with disabilities say coronavirus means there are no home delivery slots Coronavirus – latest updates

www.theguardian.com

 

[max8031]

I work in a residential home and are finding it difficult to get the food. While try to keep our residents isolated. We have tried to get a delivery but the earliest we can get is the 10th of April. And for us to try click and collect the nearest place we can go to is an hour and thirty minutes away.

 

[mikeyB]

Hi Max, welcome to the forum.

I think that particular problem is easing. I’m disabled and get around in a wheelchair, and always get groceries online. Last week no slots were available. On Friday, they were, and I’m getting a delivery on Wednesday. Admittedly, some stuff wasn’t available, but I’m going to check on Tuesday to amend the order if possible. The problem may be geographical to a degree. For sure, the supermarkets are taking on more delivery staff.

 

[robert@fm]

Here in London, there are no delivery slots to be had. 😡 Iceland are in theory prioritising the elderly, disabled and vulnerable (I tick all three boxes), but in practice their action is worthless as they're not asking for any proof, so anyone who claims to be so gets through. 😱🙄

 

[grovesy]

Well from what my ex colleagues NHS workers have been saying on Facebook, the Tesco's NHS priority hour is a bit of disaster. This Essex and Essex, borders. Queues on approaches and unable to get in car parks, that is in differnt stores in differnt towns. Some saying had to show NHS ID, others saying people were being taken at face value.