‘Russian roulette’ after rules lifted
ACLINICALLY extremely vulnerable person has said she will have to “play Russian roulette” every time she goes outside her door as restrictions are eased in England.
Rosemary Parker, from Southport, said the clinically extremely vulnerable had been abandoned by the Government and it will be “survival of the fittest”.
Her comments come after Government guidance advised those most at risk from coronavirus to avoid others who are unvaccinated, continue meeting outside where possible and ask friends and family to take lateral flow tests before visiting after all remaining restrictions were eased on Monday.
The updated advice is aimed at the estimated 3.7m in this group, which includes people with certain cancers and those with severe respiratory conditions.
Ms Parker, who lost her spleen and part of her pancreas due to pancreatic cancer and has chronic asthma, said she would need “X-ray spectacles” so she could see who had and had not been vaccinated.
The 59-year-old added: “It (the guidance) was what I was expecting, complete abandonment like they have done to us before.
“They put the fear of God in you and say you are at extreme risk and now it’s just ‘there you go, see you, you’re on your own now’.
“It’s just nonsensical, I’m waiting for my X-ray spectacles so I know who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t been.
“The guidance is just absolute nonsense. It’s just survival of the fittest really, that’s how I see it.
“Every time we go out the door now we are playing Russian roulette, and it’s not just us, anyone can catch it.”
Ms Parker said even though she had been double-jabbed she was going to start shielding again because people seeing her out and about will have no way of knowing she is vulnerable.
She added: “I just look normal, how do people know that I need space, how do I know they have been vaccinated?
“I just started to feel confident to go out, nothing drastic, going to have a coffee or whatever, and now I don’t feel safe to go anywhere again.
“I am back into shielding mode. I have a wedding coming up and I don’t know if I dare go.
“The rates are rising so rapidly I just don’t feel safe out.”
Ms Parker said the Government had not factored vulnerable people into its decision making.
She added: “Do we not feed into their plans for the economy? Do they not think we are valuable members of society? They make you feel like the dregs.
“I can’t work because of my health but I think of all the shielders out there who have to work, who have to set foot out the door without any protection, all the safety nets have been taken away from them again.
“Why didn’t they wait until we had vaccinated more people? It’s just ridiculous and foolhardy and there’s no protection for the vulnerable.
“For those who work, they have got no legal right to stay at home, to work from home, they have to get on public transport with people.
“We all saw the crowds on Sunday – relying on people’s sensibilities, it would be wonderful if we felt that was OK.”
STAFF and residents at a Southport care home celebrated National Vegetarian Week with an interactive virtual cookery demonstration courtesy of Alex Connell, from Vegetarian for Life.
Residents at Sutton Grange care home in Banks watched chef Alex make tasty, healthy snacks in a live, interactive cookery demonstration.
Head chef at the care home Dean McKeown had prepared the same recipes so that residents could try all the dishes.
They sampled delicious, light, and summery veggie dishes including Borlotti bean and dill pate, Greek fritters with Tzatziki, and Coronation ‘chicken’ pastries, all finished off with a slice of sweet and simple banana bread.
Alex said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to prepare these dishes for the Barchester residents and even more so because they got to taste them, despite my not being able to be there in person. Thanks to all the chefs in Barchester homes across the country who supported me to deliver this really lovely activity.”
Resident experience manager for Barchester Healthcare, Lucy Tomlinson, said: “We are excited to work with our amazing partners like Vegetarian for Life to bring a wide range of fantastic experiences into our homes for all to enjoy.’’