NHS staff testing...

[Goldenskies]

Does anybody know if NHS trusts are still testing their own staff or if we need to book through the national system? Also what counts as day 1 of symptoms if you started to feel ill a few days ago but only got a cough (1st potential main COVID symptom) today?! Have been trying online and the phone to get a test with no luck... The system really is shocking!

[CountessFrog]

We are both nhs, our OH teams I think do test staff Monday to Friday, but not other household members.

That in itself is a big problem.

[VioletCharlotte]

Speak to your Trust. We started testing frontline staff and families last week as it was become an issue with people not being able to get tests. I don't think that's the case across everywhere though.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

As far as I know ours are still booked through Occ Health and we’re still not supposed to use the national testing. I haven’t seen anything that changes that advice.

[iolaus]

Trust

And when a colleague couldn't get a test for her son she rang up the NHS one and explained and they tested him - because a negative result will allow her to return to work

[Goldenskies]

Thanks everyone. I wasn’t working yesterday and only started coughing late afternoon (haven’t stopped since) so too late to call then. Spoke to them today and they can test me and luckily will test my household too if needed. I have an appointment tomorrow. They’ll also come out to the house if a child needs testing too which is really helpful.

[chestergirl39]

Ours test symptomatic staff and families

[Pomegranatepompom]

Yes started testing and for family members this week - again because we can’t have staff waiting for tests/results when they could be working.
There’s a rising panic about staffing levels ...

[CountessFrog]

They need to test at weekends, too.

[badlydrawnbear]

It clearly depends on your Trust. Mine is testing staff and family members, but, even with that, my colleague had to wait 3 days to get a slot for it last week.

[felineflutter]

Yes it took 48hrs to turn around results. Got a slot straight away. This was last week.

[Spindelina]

I've just done a three hour round trip with two kids in the back of my car so my husband could get swabbed at my workplace (he's got a cough, doesn't drive, and the gov.uk system wasn't offering us anything).

[Goldenskies]

It seems to be a bit of a lottery depending on which trust you work for. Sounds like I’ve been quite fortunate as only had to drive 10 minutes and was seen within 48 hours of my cough starting. 3 hour round trip does not sound fun @Spindelina

Have been told results will most likely take 48 - 72 hours which in the case of a negative result is sadly still a week of no patient contact. Not great considering my service has only been back up and running face to face appointments for a few weeks!

[fifteenisthemagicnumber]

I was pleased to see the other day that my trust is testing staff and their DCs. They aren't, however, testing other household members. Now that I don't understand, as I'd be in the same position whether it was one of my DCs or my DH that developed symptoms