Shielders call for change to ‘one size fits all’ approach
VULNERABLE people in the UK have called on the Government to change their “one-size-fits-all” approach towards those shielding amid the coronavirus outbreak.
There are around 121,000 people shielding in Wales and a further 2.2 million people shielding in England, each with differing medical vulnerabilities, but the UK Government’s blanket approach has meant they were all advised to isolate themselves for months.
Angela Steatham has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and has been shielding at home in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys.
Due to fears over the impact Covid-19 could have on her, she can often spend an hour cleaning shopping and post that arrives at her home with disinfectant.
Ms Steatham also showers and washes her clothes after arriving home from medical appointments – the only time she leaves the house.
“The advice has been absolutely shocking,” the 56-year-old leadership coach said.
“It feels like we’re being treated as collateral damage – ‘just get all those people hidden away.’ The most vulnerable have been the most ignored... there’s so much anger in the community.”
“It’s too one-size-fits-all,” said 58-year-old Debbie from London, who has been shielding after having a kidney transplant.
“Instead of telling us we’re extraordinarily vulnerable, I want them to tell us what we can do to help ourselves.”
Debbie added it would “make the world of difference” if there was an hour a day specifically for shielders to allow them to leave the house and “not be walked past by joggers and walkers and other people who don’t take distancing seriously”.
Many of those shielding said they questioned whether to trust Government advice on the relaxing of lockdown rule.
“You sort of get a Stockholm syndrome – not that Boris Johnson is my kidnapper – but you get to a point after over three months... you think ‘you know what I can cope, I’d rather just stay inside shielding,’” said Ms Steatham.