Coronavirus - support for people who are shielding 

Updated 1st June 2020)

 
Thank you to everyone in our community for working together and protecting each other through maintaining physical distancing, good hand hygiene and staying at home as much as possible.  It has been hard but your commitment to this is appreciated.  Through our collective efforts we have reduced but not eliminated the coronavirus. We need to continue to  work together to stay safe in Frome as the lockdown is eased.
 
The government has updated it's advice about coronavirus, as follows: 

We can all help control the virus if we stay alert. This means you must: 

You can read more about what you can and can't do on the government website. 

CLICK HERE FOR CORONAVIRUS FAQ ON WHAT WE CAN NOW DO

If you're at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus (COVID-19), there are extra steps you're advised to take to protect yourself. These extra steps are called shielding.

NHS CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

 
If you have symptoms of coronavirus, stay at home. Do not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. 

Use the 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do. The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

NHS 111 ONLINE CORONAVIRUS SERVICE

 

It is really important for all of us to feel supported during the coronavirus pandemic and so we have collated this information to let you know about the support in our community that is there to help us all stay safe and well, but will be particularly helpful to those people our are shielding for 12 weeks. 

 

Support for people who are shielding 

Feeling isolated or need help getting food or medication?

There are several ways to get support if you feel isolated or need help getting food or medication: 

Activate your support network

Contact your friends, neighbours and family. Ask them to give you a regular telephone call or call them regularly. It will be nice for them too as they may also be feeling a bit isolated. Also ask someone to shop for you when they are doing their regular shop. They can leave it at your door and tell you when to expect it. 

Local community support

If you don’t have friends and family nearby, there are towns and villages that have set up community support with volunteers to help people like you. If you have internet access, you can see the list of this community support on the Health Connections Mendip directory website here.  The people who have volunteered in these groups really want to support people in the local area who need help.

You may also have received an offer of help through your letter box. These are also local people who have offered to help their neighbours.

Register with the government

If you have received a ‘most vulnerable’ patient letter because of a medical condition and do not have anyone to help, you can use this link to register to get help with delivery of food and medications:  www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. You can of course also access the other support listed in this document.

Local support if you feel isolated or need support

If you want help and you don’t have friends, family or local community support then telephone Frome Town Council on 01373 465757 for help with food or Active and In Touch on 07539 795261 for a befriending telephone call.

If you don’t feel up to calling these numbers, contact Health Connections Mendip on 01373 468368.

 

Directory of Local Support

Support available in villages - Health Connections Mendip round up of local community support 

Frome Town Council - coronavirus advice and information, covering a range of topics, from accessing food to employment advice

Active and In Touch - for befriending phone calls contact 07539 795261. Active and In Touch are also seeking volunteers to help with their work

Emotional Support - contact Mindline Somerset on 01823 276 892. Also see our useful links page for more support around mental health and wellbeing. 

Patient Transport Advice Centre - please call 01278 727444

Frome Community Cars - please call 07596 591391. Frome Community Cars are also looking for volunteers. 

Citizens Advice in Mendip - please call 03444 889623

Mendip Distict Council - please call 0300 303 8588

Shelter - please call 0808 800 4444

ACAS - please call 0300 123 1100

Domestic Abuse and Violence - please contact Somerset Integrated Domestic Abuse Service on 0800 69 49 999

 

Other Useful Links and Information 

Please see our useful links page for more advice and information on coronavirus, such as: 

  • government and NHS guidance
  • information in different formats
  • handwashing advice
  • local advice and information
  • mental health and wellbeing 
  • information and advice for parents
  • health information 

COVID-19 (coronavirus)

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