Life vs Livelihood

During the pandemic, people with leukaemia were told to shield. When that advice stopped, many still felt at risk. The government’s support ended, but the danger from COVID-19 remained – especially for those with weakened immune systems. Leukaemia Care heard from patients who felt abandoned and unsure what to do. That’s why we started the Life vs Livelihood campaign: to highlight the tough choices patients faced and call for better protection at work.

Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people are at the highest risk from COVID-19. This includes anyone with blood cancer, like leukaemia. Even after having the vaccine, some people with leukaemia don’t get full protection. This means they may still get very ill if they catch the virus. That’s why many chose to keep shielding, even when others returned to normal life.

In our surveys, people told us:

• 1 in 2 had not left their house in the past week
  
• Most still didn’t feel safe going back to work
  
• Over half said shielding had affected their mental health
  
• Many were confused about their rights and support
  

These findings showed the real-life struggles of leukaemia patients after shielding ended.

We called for:

• Clear guidance for employers on how to protect vulnerable staff
  
• A safe and fair return to work for leukaemia patients
  
• Support for those who couldn’t go back yet – like furlough or unpaid leave
  
• No discrimination against people who needed to shield
  
• COVID-19 risk assessments for all vulnerable workers
  

We wanted to make sure no one had to choose between their health and their job.

If you are affected by these issues, our Advocacy Team is here to help.
📧 Email: advocacy@leukaemiacare.org.uk
📞 Call our free helpline: 08088 010 444