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Criteria for Shielded Patients
People falling into this extremely vulnerable group include:
Solid organ transplant recipients.
- People with specific cancers:
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
- people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
- Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
Shielding is for your personal protection.
It is your choice to decide whether to follow the measures we advise.
Individuals who have been given a prognosis of less than 6 months to live, and some others in special circumstances, could decide not to undertake shielding. This will be a deeply personal decision. We advise calling the surgery or specialist to discuss this.
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If you are 70 or older or have pre-existing health conditions that mean you are eligible for flu jabs then you could be at a higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus. You should follow Government advice and stay at home. Please arrange for family, neighbours and friends or local community groups to deliver the food and medicines you need. If you do not have this support available please register with the Essex Welfare Service at www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk/support-request or call 0300 303 9988 . If you meet the above criteria you may also find the NHS Responders are able to help with shopping, a prescription collection or a friendly chat - for further information please go to: https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal/isolating
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To reduce your chances of catching COVID-19 and reduce pressure on your local GP practice during this busy time, appointments will be carried out over the phone or through using the e-consult service unless there is a clinical need for you to come into the practice. This will help minimise risk while continuing to ensure people get the care and advice they need.
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Coronavirus Face Coverings
Rules May and June
Stay Alert