A vulnerable elderly couple in isolation have been unable to secure a food delivery for almost a month despite living 400 yards from their nearest supermarket.
Despite registering for assistance from the government in getting food deliveries, the couple have currently received no help and have been unable to get a food delivery slot for the last three weeks.
The government has encouraged those who are classed as clinically vulnerable to coronavirus to sign up to receive support with tasks such as food delivery.
Information about customers with underlying health issues, who are unable to leave their homes to shop, is then passed to supermarkets who should give priority to those customers when allocating delivery slots.
However, intense demand for delivery slots has left supermarkets struggling to cater for all those who have been told to self-isolate for 12 weeks.
The man in his 60s, who did not wish to be named, told the ECHO: "My wife and I both have underlying health issues and we are classed as in the category that can't go outside at all.
"We received a letter from the NHS telling us to shield for 12 weeks and to register for help with deliveries on the government website.
"But, after registering, we have received no confirmation and no guidance as to when we can expect help getting a delivery slot.
"My wife has COPD and heart disease, while I have a stent, arthritis and have previously had prostate cancer. My son is in lockdown in Spain and up until now we've had to rely on help from neighbours.
"We expected we might have to wait a week, but not four. Why aren't our details being passed to the supermarkets so we can get a delivery slot? We've been told we can't leave the house so we have no choice."
After weeks of trying to get a delivery slot, the couple has finally managed to book a slot for this Friday but said that this is down to pure luck, rather than any government assistance.
He added: "I'm so frustrated with it. There's no number you can call to speak to anyone about it.
"You can't ring the shops and supermarkets about it, you just have to wait for the government to pass your details on.
"If this doesn't improve, people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 will be forced to go into shops and put themselves at risk because they have no other way of getting food.
"If it's happening to us then there will be people who are far worse off who will be suffering too and desperate for help."
The NHS has compiled a list of more than a million people who have been old to self-isolate for at least 12 weeks due to underlying health conditions.
Under plans set up by the government, supermarkets are then allowed to cross reference their customer database with the list to give priority for delivery slots to the most vulnerable.
Up to 1.5 million people in England currently live with medical conditions or are taking medication or receiving treatment and have been identified as at greater risk of developing health problems if they get the virus.
