Dr Rosemary Leonard

ANSWERS YOUR CORONAVIRUS QUESTIONS

QMy parents are 82 and 85 but they do not have any underlying health conditions, and so do not come into the ‘extremely vulnerable’ group. They live alone 175 miles away in a small village in the country. What local support are they entitled to?

AMy 92-year-old mother lives alone in a tiny village in Dorset and is in exactly the same position.And people like her, and your parents, are not entitled to any help.They do not qualify for priority online deliveries and if my mother’s experience is anything to go by, it will be impossible to book a delivery slot. But people of their age are, of course, vulnerable to becoming extremely ill from Covid-19, and if at all possible should avoid going out to the supermarket. But the good news is that local support networks are springing up all over the country, and I’m sure there will be someone who lives near your parents who will be willing to help them, collecting shopping and also essential medicines. I know many of the older generation are extremely independent and hate asking for help, but they do need to be sensible and look after themselves by staying in their own home. My surgery is connecting our elderly patients who need a bit of help with local volunteers, and I’m sure their surgery will do the same for them.

● If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, write to her in confidence at the Daily Express, One Canada Square, CanaryWharf, London E14 5AP, or email yourhealth@express.co. uk. Dr Leonard regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence or reply to everyone.