Banned & unemployed

[Simon Ban]

I got made redundant a few months ago then the stress of the outstanding mortgage, finding a job & unusual food (I was staying with my elder sister at the time) made my BG very high, subsequently I had very bad result from the diabetic clinic & not long afterwards the optician who said my eyesight had failed due to retinopathy. The retinopathy had been getting worse year by year. I have been refused a new license by DVLC & am no longer driving. I'm in a panic because the nearest supermarket is 5miles away. I'm a very unfit 57 year old. I'm worried about feeding myself now & am looking for any help in the Poole area as to getting food and insulin supplies. Can anybody help?? I live alone BTW

 

[noblehead]

Sorry to hear about your predicament @Simon Ban

Insulin supplies isn't an issue no matter which region of the UK your in, just see a Dr who will prescribe what you need.

Your retinopathy getting worse year by year is awful news, what stage is it at and what treatments have you had? Maybe you've seen this website before, if not have a read around it as it contains a wealth of information and advice on diabetic retinopathy:

http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/Information_for_patients.html

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @Simon Ban ,

Food can be ordered online & delivered to your address.. Most supermarket chains offer this service.

Prescriptions can be ordered online from the surgery then sent to the chemist of your choice.
You will need to register with your surgery for this service.
Medication can also be delivered to your home from the dispensing chemist.

I know when my elderly father stopped driving in his latter years, his meds were delivered..
Check if this service is available with any of the local chemist to you on your GP's surgery list..?

Hope this helps!

 

[Simon Ban]

Sorry to hear about your predicament @Simon Ban

Insulin supplies isn't an issue no matter which region of the UK your in, just see a Dr who will prescribe what you need.

Your retinopathy getting worse year by year is awful news, what stage is it at and what treatments have you had? Maybe you've seen this website before, if not have a read around it as it contains a wealth of information and advice on diabetic retinopathy:

http://www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk/Information_for_patients.html

My GP is very good, he's been sending the insulin via the pharmacy & delivered to my home address. Not sure if he will continue this, doesn't solve the food supply problem though.

Hi @Simon Ban ,

Food can be ordered online & delivered to your address.. Most supermarket chains offer this service.

Prescriptions can be ordered online from the surgery then sent to the chemist of your choice.
You will need to register with your surgery for this service.
Medication can also be delivered to your home from the dispensing chemist.

I know when my elderly father stopped driving in his latter years, his meds were delivered..
Check if this service is available with any of the local chemist to you on your GP's surgery list..?

Hope this helps!

 

[noblehead]

My GP is very good, he's been sending the insulin via the pharmacy & delivered to my home address. Not sure if he will continue this, doesn't solve the food supply problem though.

If you've moved to a new area you may need to change your gp surgery.

Is the food problem an affordability issue or just getting to the supermarket? As Jaylee says most supermarkets deliver for a small cost, if it is a money issue then ask your local council if there's a food bank in the area who can help out.

 

[Simon Ban]

My GP is very good, he's been sending the insulin via the pharmacy & delivered to my home address. Not sure if he will continue this, doesn't solve the food supply problem though.

My GP is very good, he's been sending the insulin via the pharmacy & delivered to my home address. Not sure if he will continue this, doesn't solve the food supply problem though.

My GP is very good, he's been sending the insulin via the pharmacy & delivered to my home address. Not sure if he will continue this, doesn't solve the food supply problem though.

If you've moved to a new area you may need to change your gp surgery.

Is the food problem an affordability issue or just getting to the supermarket? As Jaylee says most supermarkets deliver for a small cost, if it is a money issue then ask your local council if there's a food bank in the area who can help out.

 

[Simon Ban]

Money is a problem otherwise I'd use a taxi. Unfortunately The nearest pharmacy is beyond my walking distance. I don't live in the town centre, otherwise there would be no problem. Buses are very unreliable here & even the nearest bus stop is about a mile away which is beyond my capabilities & physical strength

 

[ally1]

Hi Simon
Sorry about losing your job.
The main thing to do is to start claiming benefits. Please Don, t be ashamed about doing this.
Re your eyes, sorry no advice there but change gp,s.
Re food shopping , online shopping will be the best option, I do know Asda covers a wide range of areas. I am on benefits and to save me bus fares and taxi fare home because too much to carry home on the bus. My nearest Asda is 25 miles away and they deliver to me. Depending on your area as how much you pay for delivery. With my nearest Asda delivery store, I found that having my shopping delivered on a Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm and costs me a pound. When I shopped before I would get a bus a single fare there was 3 pound and a taxi home was 15 pound. Bargain at the Asda delivery for a pound.
With Asda, the minimum order is just 25 pounds whereas with the other supermarkets, minimum order is 40 pound

 

[ally1]

Money is a problem otherwise I'd use a taxi. Unfortunately The nearest pharmacy is beyond my walking distance. I don't live in the town centre, otherwise there would be no problem. Buses are very unreliable here & even the nearest bus stop is about a mile away which is beyond my capabilities & physical strength

I know Boots chemist do meds delivery to anywhere. Look into your local chemist for delivery

 

[Simon Ban]

Hi @Simon Ban ,

Food can be ordered online & delivered to your address.. Most supermarket chains offer this service.

Prescriptions can be ordered online from the surgery then sent to the chemist of your choice.
You will need to register with your surgery for this service.
Medication can also be delivered to your home from the dispensing chemist.

I know when my elderly father stopped driving in his latter years, his meds were delivered..
Check if this service is available with any of the local chemist to you on your GP's surgery list..?

Hope this helps!

I know Boots chemist do meds delivery to anywhere. Look into your local chemist for delivery

Unfortunatly it only solves the insulin problem, not the food issue. I'll probably end up starving to death

 

[ally1]

Money is a problem otherwise I'd use a taxi. Unfortunately The nearest pharmacy is beyond my walking distance. I don't live in the town centre, otherwise there would be no problem. Buses are very unreliable here & even the nearest bus stop is about a mile away which is beyond my capabilities & physical strength

Re Asda online ordering. They often have fresh meats like pork chops etc that cost 4 pound a packet, there offer is to buy 3 packs for 12 pounds a saving of 2 pound. That mounts up. It shows online what meat is in that offer. So if you can afford to stock up on these, then you save money in the long run. They always have offers on other items

 

[ally1]

Unfortunatly it only solves the insulin problem, not the food issue. I'll probably end up starving to death

Simon please read my replies about Asda online shopping. That will solve your problem about shopping

 

[lovinglife]

Unfortunatly it only solves the insulin problem, not the food issue. I'll probably end up starving to death

What is the problem your having with food? Just about anywhere can get a delivery as others have said - Tesco has a £40 minimum and I know that can be a lot for someone who has a tight budget but you can get an awful lot of food for that from the special offers and the saver ranges. If you shopped clever it would probably last you a couple of weeks

 

[Simon Ban]

Hi Simon
Sorry about losing your job.
The main thing to do is to start claiming benefits. Please Don, t be ashamed about doing this.
Re your eyes, sorry no advice there but change gp,s.
Re food shopping , online shopping will be the best option, I do know Asda covers a wide range of areas. I am on benefits and to save me bus fares and taxi fare home because too much to carry home on the bus. My nearest Asda is 25 miles away and they deliver to me. Depending on your area as how much you pay for delivery. With my nearest Asda delivery store, I found that having my shopping delivered on a Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm and costs me a pound. When I shopped before I would get a bus a single fare there was 3 pound and a taxi home was 15 pound. Bargain at the Asda delivery for a pound.
With Asda, the minimum order is just 25 pounds whereas with the other supermarkets, minimum order is 40 pound

I'm not ashamed about claiming benefits, although they won't start paying the interest of my mortgage for nine months! But even getting to the jobcentre is problematic. The nearest bus stop is too far for me to walk (I'm phyisicaly very unfit & need to be near a toilet)

 

[Simon Ban]

Hi @Simon Ban ,

Food can be ordered online & delivered to your address.. Most supermarket chains offer this service.

Prescriptions can be ordered online from the surgery then sent to the chemist of your choice.
You will need to register with your surgery for this service.
Medication can also be delivered to your home from the dispensing chemist.

I know when my elderly father stopped driving in his latter years, his meds were delivered..
Check if this service is available with any of the local chemist to you on your GP's surgery list..?

Hope this helps!

Hi Simon
Sorry about losing your job.
The main thing to do is to start claiming benefits. Please Don, t be ashamed about doing this.
Re your eyes, sorry no advice there but change gp,s.
Re food shopping , online shopping will be the best option, I do know Asda covers a wide range of areas. I am on benefits and to save me bus fares and taxi fare home because too much to carry home on the bus. My nearest Asda is 25 miles away and they deliver to me. Depending on your area as how much you pay for delivery. With my nearest Asda delivery store, I found that having my shopping delivered on a Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm and costs me a pound. When I shopped before I would get a bus a single fare there was 3 pound and a taxi home was 15 pound. Bargain at the Asda delivery for a pound.
With Asda, the minimum order is just 25 pounds whereas with the other supermarkets, minimum order is 40 pound

 

[Simon Ban]

Unfortunately I cannot order online as I do not have a working computer. I'm writing this on a (employed) neighbours PC

 

[Simon Ban]

Simon - I know you said that money is an issue, but could you possible afford a mobility scooter. Both my husband and I would be lost without it. Ours has a range of about 15 miles per charge, so easy to get to shops and back. Also we have so much more freedom with ours, just getting some fresh air is great and it stops us from getting stuck inside all day. If you can't buy one then maybe look at groups that lend them out. Do you get any benefit - maybe your living situation in terms of benefits needs to be looked at, don't know your circumstances but it won't hurt to check your rights. Good Luck

No where to store one where I live. I live in a first floor flat.
I'm not in receipt of any benefits. Apparently my redundancy was just over the threshold for getting any. I'm having trouble getting into town anyway because of my physical abilities (it's about 3 miles away)

 

[Juicyj]

Hi Simon - do you have friends or family who can help you ? If your unfit then can you get some exercise and get more mobile ? Otherwise you will have to see your GP and speak to them about getting help.

Out of interest how well controlled is your type 1 ?

 

[catapillar]

How far is you nearest library? You'd be able to use a computer there to arrange a groceries delivery.

When you say you are too unfit to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop, what is causing that? Do you have medical mobility issues or is it as simple as unfitness?

 

[Simon Ban]

Hi Simon - do you have friends or family who can help you ? If your unfit then can you get some exercise and get more mobile ? Otherwise you will have to see your GP and speak to them about getting help.

Out of interest how well controlled is your type 1 ?

How far is you nearest library? You'd be able to use a computer there to arrange a groceries delivery.

When you say you are too unfit to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop, what is causing that? Do you have medical mobility issues or is it as simple as unfitness?

I'm unfit because I have toilet issues & dare not be more than 30 seconds away. The nearest library is in town 3 miles