Coronavirus: NI elderly and vulnerable losing out because Stormont can’t get their details to supermarkets

The situation means that some of those unable to leave home because they are most vulnerable to coronaviurs are being disadvantaged in comparison to those elsewhere in the UK – because Stormont has been unable to get a workable database to supermarkets.

Even before the government shut much of the country last month, those most vulnerable to coronavirus had already been told to stay at home, making it impossible for them to go to the shop.

As the country entered lockdown, limited online delivery slots for supermarkets became impossible for many people to secure because of the massive rise in demand.

In response, the government in London gave supermarkets access to a database of the elderly and vulnerable in England.

The devolved administrations in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast were slower to act because their systems are different to that used in England.

However, the Scottish and Welsh governments have now managed to give their lists to supermarkets – but Northern Ireland has not.

Some supermarkets have been able to use some of their own data to prioritise the vulnerable, but it is far less complete than government data.

Last week Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe wrote to customers to say: “We continue to prioritise elderly and vulnerable customers for online delivery and have offered over 725,000 elderly and vulnerable people access to slots so far.

“We identified 450,000 of these customers based on our own data and from customers registering with us. We have also been able to match over 275,000 additional customers in England, Scotland and Wales based on government data and we are contacting these customers to arrange priority home delivery.

“We will be in touch with more customers based on the database we receive from Northern Ireland as soon as we can.”

Across the UK, the government has also been delivering food parcels to those in particular need, and Stormont Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has implemented that scheme in Northern Ireland.

Last week she announced that the food parcels had been “hugely successful”, with 30,975 boxes having been delivered to 24 council distribution centres in a three-week period.

However, she said that it was “not possible at present to go beyond a supply capacity ceiling of 18,000 food boxes per week” and she would be holding “urgent meetings with officials to explore all available options”

When asked about the fact that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK not to be part of the priority online delivery system for the vulnerable, a Department for Communities spokeswoman said: “The online system being used in England can’t be used here, as we have different health service database arrangements.

“We have made good progress with the big retailers in developing localised arrangements, which will be in place as soon as possible.

“Given that any arrangement will involve sharing names and addresses, there are a number of data assurance and data security measures that need to be put in place, which include consulting with the ICO.

“Alongside this, home deliveries are available from a range of local businesses and each council area has a list of volunteers who are can collect shopping for those who cannot leave their homes.”

In GB, supermarkets have used their own data – such as online registrations – as well as the government database to identify hundreds of thousands of people for priority delivery slots.

Supermarkets have urged people who are able to visit their stores to do so, leaving more online delivery slots for those who really need them.

• If you are struggling to get food, Stormont’s Covid Community Helpline can provide advice – 0808 802 0020.

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