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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
BalanceGreen · 08/09/2020 07:14

The tests that go via the national postal service are area dependent? FFS.

MissPoldark · 08/09/2020 07:17

Diligent, responsible people persevere to try and get tested. You can only imagine how many other people would just give up at the first hurdle when presented with similar problems, only too happy to have the excuse of not being able to get tested. We can’t afford to have these issues with test and trace!
SAGE already saying they think cases are increasing exponentially again across the country Angry

earlydoors42 · 08/09/2020 07:17

Well some people are able to get postal tests and some are not. That is all over Twitter. Makes no sense but is the case.

HasaDigaEebowai · 08/09/2020 07:18

A few weeks ago we got a postal test immediately. It came via amazon very quickly. Yesterday we tried to book one and despite there being a large testing centre 20 minutes away we were told the only availability for the whole week was a 2 hour drive away. No postal tests available.

Clearly lots of demand. We have a whole school closed locally and two other schools with whole year groups out.

TeddyIsaHe · 08/09/2020 07:18

Of course they are, the tests are from the NHS, the Royal Mail just deliver them, they aren’t in charge of testing 😂

thereplycamefromanchorage · 08/09/2020 07:18

Really frustrating but no surprise again at the poor show by the government.

Having said that, I am in Scotland, and have had no problem booking a drive in test over the weekend for DC - loads of slots, results less than 24 hours later.

Dauphinois · 08/09/2020 07:21

@Whatdowehaveherethen as pp said, your school should have a small supply of tests to give those who can't access one. Might be worth asking them?

amatsip · 08/09/2020 07:26

The pp who is in surrey, Gatwick has a testing drive through, I used it 5 weeks ago.

HasaDigaEebowai · 08/09/2020 07:26

Of course they are, the tests are from the NHS, the Royal Mail just deliver them, they aren’t in charge of testing

Ok - we are all lying then Hmm

JeanMichelBisquiat · 08/09/2020 07:27

Am sitting here in exactly the same position, OP - DS has developed a cough overnight, trying to do the right thing, but being told no postal tests available, and nearest drive-ins are 70 miles away and don't have ANY slots available in the next five days anyway.

There's actually a testing centre five minutes' drive from me!!!

Will keep refreshing....

WhoKnew19 · 08/09/2020 07:27

No postal or drive through tests available in our area.

PP not particularly helpful saying that they managed to get a test 5 weeks agoHmm

Ledkr · 08/09/2020 07:32

Same here. Dd has a cold. No temp and very occasional cough.
Testing in 5 days 50 miles away.
We are both critical workers and even that didnt help. Unable to add police officer to list.
Hiw do you get the postal tests? Wasnt offered one in process.

TeddyIsaHe · 08/09/2020 07:32

@HasaDigaEebowai

Of course they are, the tests are from the NHS, the Royal Mail just deliver them, they aren’t in charge of testing

Ok - we are all lying then Hmm

Sorry, I was replying to the poster that said there must be tests because they go by the National Postal service - I know there aren’t!
IslaBas · 08/09/2020 07:33

Complained to the local MP about this. He got back to me and said “go to the local testing centre”. I told him there were no slots and he said oh you don’t need one you can just turn up...

They didn’t think to advertise that anywhere ffs?

CodenameVillanelle · 08/09/2020 07:33

@Brogues

Do a drive through one instead.

Can they go back with a negative result though? I though it didn’t matter they would have to isolate for showing symptoms anyway?

No, you don't have to isolate if the test is negative
milf90 · 08/09/2020 07:38

Apologies if this has already been said, but there seems to be an issue with the system not saying where tests are available - if you know where your nearest one is, you can just turn up with no booking (my friend did this last night).

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 08/09/2020 07:39

@TeddyIsaHe

Of course they are, the tests are from the NHS, the Royal Mail just deliver them, they aren’t in charge of testing 😂
I thought they were using Amazon to distribute the tests? Would explain the issue if some distribution hubs have run out
natnev · 08/09/2020 07:41

Tried to order a test yesterday also, none available in the post and the only drive through appointment they could offer was over 50 miles away Confused

Rudolphian · 08/09/2020 07:42

I think they have moved any spare capacity where the increased positive rates are, so there is less availability where there is less covid positive people.

sensiblesometimes · 08/09/2020 07:43

I've been told by NHS my nearest test is available 30 miles away or 45 miles ! manchester or Sunderland !! im a teacher also ,

Xenia · 08/09/2020 07:44

I htikn the demand has gone up. Just 2 weeks ago my won and his 2 friends who needed a negative result for a short holiday abroad were able to book test centre ones (SE including outer London where we live) and he could drive in for one and the results came back to his mobile within less than 24 hours (not charge even thought it was discretionary in a sense - for a holiday and they had no symptoms as there is a box on the form under reason for test "Other" which was the one applying to them). Now everyone is back at school it sounds like some areas have much higher demand. Even in our case he had to drive for about 20 to 25 minutes to the test centre.

Polly2345 · 08/09/2020 07:44

We're on the UK. We got a walk in test within a few hours of someone in our house developing symptoms. Get the results the next day. It was a weekend too. Test centre was less than a mile from our house and people were driving there too.

I guess it depends where you live.

Morfin · 08/09/2020 07:45

Anecdotal but it appears that postal test are available in areas with high infection, but not low. It's all over local fb that my area can't get tests, get either postal or drive in, but my friends in high risk areas can.

Schoolsout2 · 08/09/2020 07:46

It’s not just your area OP. I’ve had the same problem since Sunday. I called the lines this morning 911 and they don’t release any postal kits till 8am that’s if they are available.

Absolutely shocking.

Laney79 · 08/09/2020 07:46

My mom was advised to get a test by the GP (she has asthma and copd so coughs a lot normally but has had a cold too so the coughing has got marginally worse. No temp or loss of taste/smell). GP doesn't believe it's Covid (neither does mom) but said to test anyway

Went online to get her sorted-no home tests available and no testing sites either. Tried all day. Not much point in trying now as it says test needs to be done within 4 days of symptom starting, which was sat.