Doctors say letters to end shielding are ‘ridiculous’

VULNERABLE patients across England have been told by their doctors they must continue shielding, despite letters from the Government telling them they can now go outside.

Concerns have been raised that thousands of vulnerable patients may have been told to stop shielding immediately by the National Shielding Service, against the advice of their own medical professionals.

Letters received across England this week tell patients: “We understand that your GP or hospital specialist has reviewed your medical record and has advised you are no longer considered to be at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus. This letter is to confirm, in line with this, that the Government is no longer recommending you follow shielding advice.”

But concerned patients who contacted their GPs or consultants to confirm the advice were told to continue shielding, as they were still considered high risk.

One doctor told his patient the letter was “bloody ridiculous” and advised they stayed at home until September. Their medical records had not changed since the start of lockdown, he said.

The Department of Health refused to disclose how many letters had been sent out by the National Shielding Service, but acknowledged that GPs, not central Government, were best placed to decide whether patients’ shielding should continue.

The Department of Health did not respond to questions about how the process for consulting doctors worked, and would not explain how the errors have been made.