Several supermarkets have said they are going to access the government’s list of vulnerable people so they are able to better prioritise online deliveries for those most in need.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many supermarkets have been introducing measures to help customers who are elderly or vulnerable purchase food and household essentials without difficulty.
This has included implementing dedicated shopping hours in-store and giving priority to certain customers for online delivery slots.
As demand has increased for online deliveries following the nation being placed under lockdown, supermarkets including Sainsbury’s and Asda have stated they are going to use the government’s list of most vulnerable members of the public to provide them with greater clarity on who needs their groceries with more urgency.
In a letter sent to Sainsbury’s customers this week, chief executive Mike Coupe explained how the measure is going to work.
“We will receive the government database this week which tells us which people in England the government considers to be the most vulnerable,” Mr Coupe said.
“Where these people are already registered with us, we will start to write to them next week to offer them a delivery slot.”
The chief executive added that the supermarket is “working hard to secure details for vulnerable people living in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland”.
He also issued an apology for customers who he acknowledged are “feeling very frustrated at not being able to book slots”.
“Please bear with us and I hope you can understand why we feel the need to prioritise the elderly and vulnerable customers at the moment,” Mr Coupe stated.
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A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome
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A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother’s Day in Jounieh, Lebanon
AFP/Getty
2/15
Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome
Reuters
3/15
A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany
AP
4/15
The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome
AP
5/15
A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy
EPA
6/15
DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome
Reuters
7/15
A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona
EPA
8/15
Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City
Reuters
9/15
DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn
Reuters
10/15
People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel
Reuters
11/15
A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony
Reuters
12/15
Residents toast during a “safe distance” aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium
Reuters
13/15
Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary
Reuters
14/15
A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn
Reuters
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A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome
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A spokesperson for Asda said the supermarket is working with the government and several other supermarkets “to ensure those people who have identified as highly vulnerable get what they need and are protected from Covid-19“.
“We have a dedicated team who will work with government on the available data to support as many extremely vulnerable people as we can — whilst also continuing to ensure our stores are stocked and our deliveries are moving for millions of customers nationwide,” the spokesperson outlined.
Waitrose will also be accessing the government’s data to help prioritise vulnerable customers when sorting out online delivery slots.
On the government’s website, it offers a free service that allows members of the public in England to register as an extremely vulnerable person or to do so for someone else.
On the webpage it states: “Register if you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. For example, you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food.
“If you’re not sure whether your medical condition makes you extremely vulnerable, register anyway.”
People who register will be asked to provide their NHS letter, which can be found on any prescription letter sent by the NHS.
