Supermarket vulnerable

[mooshk]

Hi all,

Apologies for bothering you all but I'm a tad confused re covid-19. Like most others I haven't received a text or letter regarding the most vulnerable category and 12 week isolation. However, 3 days ago I received an email from Sainsbury's, stating the below:


'Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been adapting to meet increased demand for food and other essential items.

As part of this, we’ve recognised the need to prioritise our most vulnerable customers for home delivery slots. The government has identified you as someone who is extremely vulnerable to coronavirus, which is why we’re contacting you.

You’ll now be given priority access to home delivery slots.'

Just wondering if anyone else has had this and/or an update on the vulnerable category?

Thanks

 

[zand]

My daughter in law had a letter saying she was vulnerable and should be shielded. She had to apply to the supermarkets who have the details on a database confirming that she is eligible. The supermarket didn't approach her. Sainsbury's told her that they check the details on a national database when she applied.

So I am wondering if the email you got was genuine or a scam? Did it ask for personal information and/or bank details? It seems odd that you didn't get a letter or maybe it has been lost in the post. Have you had high HbA1cs which might put you at a higher risk than other T1s ?


Did you use Sainsbury's for online shopping before? Maybe the shop is ahead of things and have checked the database before you got a letter?

 

[Bluetit1802]

I think I would check with your GP surgery. All those I know who are in the severely vulnerable group (which does not include diabetics) have had a letter telling them to shield themselves etc. Unless you have other illnesses that are on the list of severely at risk you won't have had a letter. I agree with @zand that this could have been a scam. Were there any links on the email?

 

[mooshk]

Heya,

Thanks for responding, Hope you're well. It's all legitimate, it's from Sainsbury's address and I clicked it through to their website etc. with very limited delivery options, but I did manage to get a slot.

I'm type 1 for 26 years and diabulimic, receiving specialist treatment at Kings College, London. I assume this is why I got the Sainsburys thing. Just odd about the letter/text, I assumed I'd receive this first.
But I definitely reckon you're correct with the bottom bit about the database, just a tad confusing ha.

 

[sleepster]

According to the NHS my mum is extremely vulnerable but she hasn't had a letter, she's not bothered as I've managed to book supermarket slots for the next 3 weeks or so, but I'm concerned that as the supermarkets are all saying they're reserving more slots for vulnerable people, it'll be more difficult to get them without the letter she registered with sainsburys as well, but heard nothing from them

Edited for spelling

 

[mooshk]

Hi @sleepster, if it's any help I didn't register. They just said the below (picture) in regards to how they've identified us.

 

[Antje77]

Hi @sleepster, if it's any help I didn't register. They just said the below (picture) in regards to how they've identified us.View attachment 40067

The government is giving your e-mail address with private information (being in an at risk group) to a supermarket? Unasked for? I would be very wary about this one.

it's from Sainsbury's address and I clicked it through to their website etc. with very limited delivery options, but I did manage to get a slot.

If you clicked through from the e-mail, how do you know you haven't been led to a scam site? And if you got a slot you must've entered information on that site or how would they know where to deliver?

 

[Rachox]

I haven’t had the letter yet when I log into Waitrose on line groceries (I use them once or twice a month) I get a message saying that I have been given priority slot access, I’m not sure why as my arthritis, diabetes and asthma are all very well controlled. I also use Tesco on line and I don’t get anything special there. I wonder what data the govt keep on us?

 

[Pipp]

I have the ‘vulnerable letter’ from NHS.
As I have not given any permission for my data to be shared with supermarkets or indeed anyone else, I would be horrified if I thought this was happening.

 

[DCUKMod]

I have the ‘vulnerable letter’ from NHS.
As I have not given any permission for my data to be shared with supermarkets or indeed anyone else, I would be horrified if I thought this was happening.

I wonder if you might find this useful, Pipp: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/data-sharing-during-this-public-health-emergency

 

[Goonergal]

I have the ‘vulnerable letter’ from NHS.
As I have not given any permission for my data to be shared with supermarkets or indeed anyone else, I would be horrified if I thought this was happening.

It’s definitely happening. Attached is a screenshot from Sainsbury’s.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @mooshk ,

Do you have an account or loyalty card with Sainsbury's?
Have you given any details to Sainsbury's regarding your health status? (I can't see why anyone would..)
Have you been a staff member regarding this company & held a staff discount card?
Could you be an NHS key worker & your profession is on thier data, putting you into some form of priority list?

Now to be fair, I'm on two email lists for paperless receipts & recently got newsletters regarding the COVID 19 crisis, & news on trading.
Pets at home. & Halfords.

Personally, I wouldn't click on any links. But I would using my browser look up the official customer services contact details, then ask?

 

[mooshk]

Hi all, please don't worry I've signed onto Sainsbury's separately and it's been confirmed I'm a vulnerable customer, it's all legitimate and the delivery is coming Thursday.

All the press releases have confirmed that the data is being sent to supermarkets via the government, so if you're receiving the same email from Sainsbury's, it won't be scam.

I had to sign onto the standard Sainsburys website separately to book the slot. I think it'll be the diabulimia, as this makes mine a complex type 1 case.

Hope all are well.

 

[kev-w]

If you were to open a reply window to your email you'd see the address you're sending to, go on the Sainsburys website and look up their email address and compare the two perhaps?

 

[Antje77]

All the press releases have confirmed that the data is being sent to supermarkets via the government, so if you're receiving the same email from Sainsbury's, it won't be scam.

It really is legal in the UK for the government to send e-mail addresses and medical information to random supermarket employees without consent? I'm flabbergasted.

 

[sleepster]

Hi @sleepster, if it's any help I didn't register. They just said the below (picture) in regards to how they've identified us.View attachment 40067

Thanks @mooshk

 

[mooshk]

Sorry, not a worker at Sainsbury's or the NHS. I have an account with them also.

Thanks so much for the reassurance but not worried about it being illegitimate, just wanted to know if others were having the same situation and how the government were deciding on the most vulnerable category.

Many thanks again

 

[Brunneria]

my parents were identified as being vulnerable (by age) likely based on info they gave to Sainsbury’s about 15 yrs ago, when they signed up for their nectar cards.

I realise that people love a good conspiracy theory, but personally I am not seeing the fact that my parents are getting food delivered to their door as a problem - especially when those deliveries are dramatically reducing their risk of catching coronavirus.

of course, if anyone is unhappy with the possibility of data sharing beyond their personal comfort zone, then they should immediately cancel any delivery slots they have booked, contact the supermarket in question, and request (in writing) that their data be erased from the system. Then they can go out to the shops themselves and pay by cash, not cards. Don’t forget to wipe down the cash machine before and after use, and remember to disinfect the money itself, both the notes and the coins.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

remember to disinfect the money itself, both the notes and the coins.

We can launder our bank notes as they are made out of polymer...

 

[Pipp]

I wonder if you might find this useful, Pipp: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/data-sharing-during-this-public-health-emergency

Thank you.
Also to @Goonergal for the screenshot from Sainsbury regarding deliveries to ‘vulnerable’ customers.

All I can think at the moment is that I am sure it is useful to those who need and want to be able to use supermarkets to shop for online groceries. It must be horrendously worrying to be told to stay at home, then not have anyone to shop for you.However, I do not want to shop online at supermarkets.
I have not had an explanation from anyone as to why I am deemed to be vulnerable in the first place, just the NHS letter telling me I am. so would like to know what info, exactly, the supermarkets (or whoever my data has been sent to) have been told about me.
Also, will this info be used to determine any health treatment (or not) should I be unfortunate enough to need it.