The first food boxes have been delivered to those
vulnerable people being shielded from coronavirus as the
Government moved to support those most in need, Communities
Secretary announced today (Sunday 29
March).
The first 2,000 food parcels have already been delivered this
weekend to those who cannot leave their homes because severe
health conditions leave them most vulnerable to the virus.
More parcels are expected to go out next week from wholesalers
across the country, bringing the first set of deliveries to more
than 50,000. Depending on demand, hundreds of thousands of boxes
could be delivered each week.
The packages contain essential food and household items such as
pasta, fruit, tinned goods and biscuits, for those who need to
self-isolate at home for 12 weeks but have no support network of
family or friends to help them.
Since Monday, 900,000 extremely vulnerable people received
letters from the NHS giving them guidance on how to shield from
coronavirus. In total up to 1.5m will be asked to be shielded in
this way. Others who did not receive letters but think they are
part of this clinically vulnerable group should contact their GP.
It is part of a support network the Government is working around
the clock to establish across the country, spearheaded by the
Communities Secretary .
Communities Secretary, Rt Hon MP said:
“This weekend sees the start of extraordinary steps to support
the most clinically vulnerable, while they shield from
coronavirus.
“We will support these people at this difficult time, and the
scale of an operation like that has not been seen since the
Second World War.
"This is an unprecedented package of support and I want to thank
the food suppliers, local councils and everyone who has come
together to create this essential service in just a matter of
days.”
Andrew Selley, CEO of Bidfood, and Hugo Mahoney, CEO of Brakes,
said:
"At a time of national crisis the foodservice industry’s two
largest distributors are coming together to work with the
Government to create packages of food and essential supplies that
will be delivered to vulnerable people as part of the Local
Support System.
“In these difficult times, we’re proud to join forces and play
such a vital role in supporting people in need during their
period of isolation. Together we are experts in food service and
our distribution networks reach into every corner of the country.
Our highly professional drivers and warehouse teams will be
keeping the wheels turning in this vital national endeavour.”
The government is working with a partnership of the food
industry, local government, local resilience and emergency
partners, and voluntary groups, to ensure that essential items
can be delivered to those who need it.
Medicines will be delivered by community pharmacies and groceries
and essential household items by food distributers, working with
supermarkets, to ensure they do not worry about getting the food
that they need.
The parcels, which will be left on the doorstep, will include
pasta, cornflakes, tea bags, tinned fruit, apples, rolls of loo
roll and biscuits.
Additional information:
- Food deliveries are currently part of a national service, as
part of a wide range of support for extremely vulnerable people
and are being organised by government in partnership with the
grocery industry, local government and local resilience forums.
- Local authorities are working across the country with local
partners and voluntary groups to meet their communities’ needs.
- Those who request it will receive ongoing communications to
reassure them that their ongoing medical needs will be met by the
NHS.
- Community pharmacies are continuing to supply medicines.
- Those in need of social contact will have their details
passed to local authority hubs, who will make contact and offer
support.
