Home deliveries for those most at risk

Brakes is helping to coordinate deliveries

Letters from the Scottish Government were issued last week to those who are at greatest risk from the virus, to offer guidance on shielding from infection and information about the support available, which includes access to home deliveries through a text message service.

The six categories of risk - as agreed by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers - are:

1. Solid organ transplant recipients

2. People with specific cancers:

a. People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer

b. People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment

c. People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer

d. People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors

e. People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last six months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs

3. People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD

4. People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)

5. People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection

6. People who are pregnant with significant congenital heart disease

The grocery delivery service will be led by Brakes and Bidfood and the first deliveries took place on Friday.

Locals who have already signed up to the service have been texted with the option of starting their weekly deliveries of essential food items including soup, pasta, rice, fruit, vegetables, tea, coffee and biscuits, as well as toiletries such as shower gel and toilet roll.

Those in the high-risk group who have received a letter but do not have access to a mobile phone will be able to register for deliveries through the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar main switchboard number – 01851 600 501.