Fears over 'shielded' people missing out on help
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CONCERNS have been raised that some vulnerable people could still be missing out on accessing vital support.
The Scottish Government has written to those who were considered to need "shielding", asking them to register to ensure they were given priority access to services like supermarket deliveries.
People are required to "opt in" to get the benefit of this support.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has said the uptake so far has been disappointing – and raised concerns that some people who require support may not be getting it.
Those on the shielded list include those at most risk from COVID-19. Scotland has chosen to take a different approach from other parts of the UK which are passing the necessary information directly to supermarkets to speed up the process.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: "It is vital that those needing support get it. That is particularly important where there is not the familial or local voluntary network available to them.
"Many of those who are in higher risk groups and who are being asked to stay at home have found it either difficult or impossible to access delivery slots with the supermarkets.
"That’s why priority access is so important.
"The Scottish Government was slow off the mark in working with supermarkets to establish a definitive list of people who should be prioritised for home deliveries, choosing to take a different approach to that south of the border. That decision has caused unnecessary delays, and we now see that uptake has been limited so far.
"Scottish ministers, including Nicola Sturgeon herself, had been very clear previously that they wanted everyone on the list to register for support. Now, with many of the most vulnerable not registered, that narrative appears to have changed.
"My concern is that some on the list may not find it easy to register and so risk missing out on getting the support they need. And if, as seems likely, those most vulnerable to COVID-19 will need shielding even beyond when general restrictions start being eased, it becomes even more crucial that the Scottish Government ensure those self-isolating are supported."
He added that the Scottish Government needed to take "a more proactive approach to properly target those needing support to ensure they are registered and able to access that support".
People on the shielding list are entitled to free grocery packs, priority supermarket delivery slots and priority prescription deliveries.
