What is SHIELDING?

This is a measure to protect the extremely vulnerable in society who could be at greatest risk from the infection. This group includes:

1. Patients who have had a solid organ transplant
2. People with specific cancers – undergoing active chemotherapy or immunotherapy
3. Patients with severe respiratory conditions such as severe COPD or asthma or patients with cystic fibrosis
4. People on immunosuppression therapy sufficient to give significantly increased risk of infection
5. Pregnant women with significant heart disease either acquired or congenital.
6. Patients with rare metabolic diseases and inborn errors of metabolism such as homozygous sickle cell.
7. Patient with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma undergoing any active treatment

Any patients in groups above need to stay at home at all times and avoid face to face contact with anyone outside the household for at least 12 weeks. If you start symptoms suggestive of coronavirus such as fever or cough you should ring 111 straight away. Your medications need to be delivered to the house. You can speak to your GP on the phone about any medical problem during daytime hours. We can send prescriptions electronically straight to the chemist after discussing any problem with you over the phone. It is likely that bank holidays will be normal working days for general practice. Please see NHS guidance for general household hygiene for the rest of the family if you are in one of the groups above.

If you are in any of the groups above and it is not possible for others to assist you with food and medication deliveries please ring 0800 028 8327 Or go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

Further information is available at the Newcastle City Council web page NCC coronavirus-covid-19/citylife