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AIBU?

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Original poster

Just back to school. Now home. Not tests available

334 replies

Whatdowehaveherethen · 08/09/2020 00:40

My boys went back to school last week. DS1 developed a persistent cough Friday evening. DS2 picked it up on Saturday.

There are no home tests available. I've looked every hour from 7am through to 2am since.

They can't go to school unless a negative result is given. I very much doubt I can get tests through the post. Many people on my area have the same issue.

I know I'm being unreasonable. I know!

Are people ordering tests 'just in case'?

I'm working from home and it's been horrendous. My boys were so happy to be back at school. Now I have to keep them off for a week. I'm pretty sure last Autumn term they developed the same cold/cough symptoms once they were back with their viral loaded friends. It was normal then.

I know keeping them off school is for the greater good but I have no idea how this is going to work in the long term. They constantly pick up viral infections. That's their job!

Actually, I'm not sorry, I'm just completely fucked off. Why haven't the gov made more tests available knowing our kids would be going back to school? What about the teachers?

The school have told me to 'continue to use' the online learning. This involves going out and finding leaves of difference colours etc. Fuck that.

I know the school are using a generalised online learning system but it's not practical at all.

I'm not going to complain by the way. I couldn't respect my boys teachers anymore. They're wonderful.

I'm just ranting.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Hereinthesticks · 08/09/2020 13:08

If it takes several weeks to fix the 'contractual' problems that are causing a severe lack of testing capacity, how do the government expect to control the virus? The WHO made it clear long ago and a pandemic can only be controlled by testing. Not only do we not have proper track and trace in this country, we don't even have proper testing for those that come forward for testing.
The economy will take a hit, our children will miss education, and the virus will spread undetected.

99victoria · 08/09/2020 13:18

My OH and I managed to get test appointments at a drive in centre last Monday (Bank Holiday). We were lucky as it was only about 10 miles away from us. Our test appointment was 10.30am. I got my result the following day at noon (so, just over 24 hours), he got his yesterday around 5pm (8 days!). Both negative fortunately but doesn't inspire confidence

DramaDromedary · 08/09/2020 13:18

@GiantPinesAhem

I have to giggle a little at the amount of people complaining that they can't get availability at nearby test centres, and I having to travel along way to get to an appointment – my nearest test centre (not nearest with availability, nearest full stop) is 50 miles away, and an hour and 20 minutes drive.

Perhaps some people should consider that they're lucky to have service is nearby in the first place,.

You can imagine the sort of area that are local test centre is happy to cover! Yet I did manage to get a test yesterday afternoon, booked yesterday morning, and am just pleased to get an appointment at all.

What do you mean you’re “pleased to get an appointment at all”?? It’s not for YOU, it’s a system that’s the lynchpin in the government’s so-called pandemic response. It needs to work so the country can get back on its feet, and it’s tragic that this thread suggests it’s not working at all. Don’t be grateful you can get an appointment! Be angry EVERYONE can’t get one.
OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/09/2020 13:20

If people are having to just isolate rather than test, then there is no track and trace. I know thats obvious, its an utter and total failure. I'm probably repeating myself, but I am so angry.

A couple of weeks ago I needed assessing for a very clear bacterial infection. I was told that I wouldn't be able to be seen unless I'd had a negative test. It took several attempts to find a test that didnt require driving 180+ miles each way. Thankfully the test was negative and antibiotics have been effective. The thought of not being able to get a test in a timely manner is frightening if it denies people access to other medical help.

oceanbreezy · 08/09/2020 13:22

@ EDSGFC @MrsRobinsonsHandPrints

Well, I was replying to the OP who said they couldn’t get a home test. No one knows where the OP lives so there could be availability. The OP hasn’t said they can’t get a drive through test. Not everyone is struggling to get a drive through test. It just depends on the area. I have booked for a few family members last week. At first it was giving London which is too far. But then checked again in the evening after 8 or in the morning.

tiredanddangerous · 08/09/2020 13:22

The whole thing is a complete fucking shambles. Apparently I'd have to go to Oldham for a test, which my maps app tells me is a 2 hour and 8 minute drive from my house.

Someone should send this thread to the Government. Not that they'd give a shit.

natnev · 08/09/2020 13:27

What do you mean you’re “pleased to get an appointment at all”?? It’s not for YOU, it’s a system that’s the lynchpin in the government’s so-called pandemic response. It needs to work so the country can get back on its feet, and it’s tragic that this thread suggests it’s not working at all. Don’t be grateful you can get an appointment! Be angry EVERYONE can’t get one.

Well said 👏🏻

EvilPea · 08/09/2020 13:34

@tiredanddangerous

The whole thing is a complete fucking shambles. Apparently I'd have to go to Oldham for a test, which my maps app tells me is a 2 hour and 8 minute drive from my house.

Someone should send this thread to the Government. Not that they'd give a shit.

Daily Mail don't pick these ones up do they.
EvilPea · 08/09/2020 13:39

Just seen on the news, its not the test centres (so presumably turning up is no use) its the lab capacity which is the issue.

AuntImmortelle · 08/09/2020 13:46

It cannot just be lab capacity- that's a load of bollocks. If the lab capacity has been reached why are people being offered tests that are 150 miles away? Surely if there is no lab capacity then no tests should be available.

I'm SE London and was just offered Telford for 6.30pm tonight. 140 odd miles away. Confused

TinySleepThief · 08/09/2020 13:47

@EvilPea

Just seen on the news, its not the test centres (so presumably turning up is no use) its the lab capacity which is the issue.
But like a PP pointed out if it was just the lab testing that was the problem then the website would show availability closer to your actual location rather than 50+ miles away?
AuntImmortelle · 08/09/2020 13:49

That's a mere 3h 14 min drive to Telford and then the return journey! Ha bloody ha!

I'm 99% sure my DD has a cold and luckily her school are being pragmatic and will allow her back without a test - so I'm not actually going to book one. But this is madness!

FrolickingLemon · 08/09/2020 13:50

I've eventually managed to order a home test. Well I think I have anyway. It said that i had successfully ordered the home test, and that I would get an email IF it was successfully processed Confused

GalaxyCookieCrumble · 08/09/2020 13:52

Schools have test kits available @Whatdowehaveherethen

EvilPea · 08/09/2020 13:54

But like a PP pointed out if it was just the lab testing that was the problem then the website would show availability closer to your actual location rather than 50+ miles away?

I think the lab capacity means they are limiting test availability. Reducing each centres capacity would lead you to struggle to find a local appointment.

puzzleboxes · 08/09/2020 13:55

@GiantPinesAhem

I have to giggle a little at the amount of people complaining that they can't get availability at nearby test centres, and I having to travel along way to get to an appointment – my nearest test centre (not nearest with availability, nearest full stop) is 50 miles away, and an hour and 20 minutes drive.

Perhaps some people should consider that they're lucky to have service is nearby in the first place,.

You can imagine the sort of area that are local test centre is happy to cover! Yet I did manage to get a test yesterday afternoon, booked yesterday morning, and am just pleased to get an appointment at all.

I don’t really see why people should consider themselves lucky. These are rules we are supposed to follow from the government regarding getting tested. We are supposed to have a negative test when showing symptoms in order to get on with our everyday lives- jobs, education, getting paid full wages to keep a roof over our heads and feed our families. Being told you must get tested when showing symptoms (and these symptoms are going to be fairly frequent in households like my own with small kids who will continuously be picking up the usual coughs and colds and germs from school) or you must isolate isn’t particularly fair when you can’t actually access a test or you’re expected to go on an eight-hour round drive with your family anytime your kid comes back with a cough from school, or else you’ll have to take 2 weeks off work and lose money you can’t afford to go without. People should absolutely expect better than this.
Jesusweptagain · 08/09/2020 14:02

Our schools in Scotland have been back since August - 1st full week my DD was coughing/hot/sneezing. The 1st few times I tried to book a test they were telling me to go to Newcastle. I just kept re trying the page again & got one a few miles away. I think the system is overwhelmed & they hadnt accounted for coughs & colds - however I couldn't send her back to school without a negative test. Keep trying online for a home test they do become available.

WrongKindOfFace · 08/09/2020 14:04

Apparently there are more labs due to open imminently. Surely they should have seen this coming though? twitter.com/BWCHBoss

And 10 per school is an absolute joke.

WrongKindOfFace · 08/09/2020 14:13

I’ve just checked my nearest out of interest - 110 miles away. No walk in, no home tests.

There is, however, a local clinic that offers private tests. So if you can afford it you can get tested. If you can’t, well fuck you.

LarkDescending · 08/09/2020 14:18

From the Guardian live feed in the last few minutes:

Back in the Commons the SNP’s Philippa Whitford says, if people are being asked to travel long distances for tests, that is dangerous. Wouldn’t it be better for people to be tested locally if the problem lies with laboratory processing? She says samples could then be sent on to laboratories. And she urges Matt Hancock to expand testing in hospitals (so-called pillar 1 testing).

Hancock agrees with Whitford on the need for more pillar 1 testing.

Unfortunately (I’ve watched the broadcast) MH simply didn’t address the first part of her question, about testing locally even if the samples then have to be sent on to available labs.

GiantPinesAhem · 08/09/2020 14:29

"What do you mean you’re “pleased to get an appointment at all”?? It’s not for YOU, it’s a system that’s the lynchpin in the government’s so-called pandemic response. It needs to work so the country can get back on its feet, and it’s tragic that this thread suggests it’s not working at all. Don’t be grateful you can get an appointment! Be angry EVERYONE can’t get one."

Of course the appointment is for me... I can't get one for everyone!

I'm grateful that I could get one in the timeframe needed, and the fact I had to travel to it is irrelevant. I would've traveled that far if there were nearer centres that didn't have capacity- and if it hadn't had capacity I'd have had to travel even further, but I'd still be grateful for the appointment.

My point is that those of us in rural areas are used to travelling for services, like hospitals which are roughly the same distance. Other people are furious that they are having to travel- my point is that more people should be grateful to be able to get appointments at all. I don't begrudge that I had to travel for it, if others expect everything to be available to them within ten minutes, then they perhaps should consider how lucky they are to have services with that sort of provision in any sphere.

GiantPinesAhem · 08/09/2020 14:32

I'm not in any sense saying that there aren't flaws in the system, which is constantly changing and must be a logistical nightmare, or that it's acceptable to have to travel like an entire day- but some people have said things like they're being offered one an hour away, and like I say, to some people, an hour away is completely normal for any provision.

EDSGFC · 08/09/2020 14:45

GiantPinesAhem

But if I choose to live rurally then I must accept whatever services are available and also make provision for travel and so on.

It isn't right, particularly in a public health crisis where the maintenance of public services relies on controlling the pandemic, that people cannot access necessary testing meaning some will ignore their symptoms and risk spreading it, some will be forced to isolate unnecessarily, possibly multiple times and risk loosing wages, their job or education, government won't have an accurate picture of rates of infection and track and trace won't be able to identify those at risk, close schools etc.

Lack of availability of tests is a bigger problem than just inconvenience to individuals. It has huge public health implications

LarkDescending · 08/09/2020 14:46

When I had coronavirus (in March) I had a high fever, non-stop cough, vomiting and a splitting headache. I was in no fit state to drive anywhere, let alone for an hour or more in each direction. If there had been community testing at the time and I had asked someone else to drive me to it, they would have become infected themselves by spending time in a car with me.

Symptomatic people should be tested as close to home as possible, in everybody’s interests. It should not be the norm to expect people to travel significant distances from home while experiencing symptoms of a highly infectious disease.