We have received word that the the guidance at NHS Inform has been updated a bit – https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/advice-and-guidance/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/documents/chronic-liver-disease/chronic-liver-disease/govscot%3Adocument/Patient%2BInfo%2BLeaflet%2B-%2B%2BChronic%2BLiver%2BDisease%2B240420.pdf
This makes clear that only those on immunosuppressants will definitely be on the shielding list, but some with decompensated cirrhosis may be on the list – the latter though are added at the discretion of clinicians so they will consider which of their patients they feel are at most significant risk (which makes it hard to give general guidance). As before though, if anyone is worried and thinks they should be on the shielding list, but haven’t received a letter they should speak to their hospital clinician or their GP.
People with bleeding disorders are not required to be shielded unless they have other medical conditions. The conditions on the shielding list are:
- Solid organ transplant recipients.
- People with specific cancers:
- People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
- People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, severe COPD, severe bronchiectasis and pulmonary hypertension.
- People with rare diseases, including all forms of Interstitial Lung Disease/Sarcoidosis, and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection or who have had their spleens removed
- Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
- People who are receiving renal dialysis treatment.