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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry that there are no tests

109 replies

whyohwhydidieatthatpie · 12/09/2020 06:39

I can't fathom it. Schools have just gone back. Something we've known will happen for months. Predictably kids catch colds, symptoms overlap with Covid-19. Parents are trying to do the right thing and get their kids tested before sending them into school. I have tried many, many times now. I cannot get a test, no home test kits available, no drive through appointments or walk through appointments. Am I the only one this is happening to?!

I just can't understand how, when testing was identified as a key failing the first time round, we seem to be so ill prepared for inevitable increased demand as schools start back. Sorry, I'm just venting.

OP posts:
Pinkshrimp · 12/09/2020 07:01

Not the only one

Coronavirus: Government apologises over tests shortage www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54072479

GoldfishParade · 12/09/2020 07:05

I just dont quite understand the logistics of testing tbh.

It takes a few days/weeks to develop symptoms. By the time you get around to thinking maybe you should have a test, you've probably infected others. If you have symptoms you can choose to self isolate anyway as a precaution.

So tests only really seem useful if you're planning long distance travel or need to care for someone vulnerable IMO.

JalapenoCheeseOnToast · 12/09/2020 07:06

I feel your pain, I've checked all night and still nothing. I'm refreshing the page frequently as suggested by other MN's and holding out for 8am when a few said things were released for them. It doesn't give me much hope, with 2 children at school/nursery and I also work in a school, that we will actually be able to test and we will likely be off a LOT (particularly me to look after the children).

Soosiesoo · 12/09/2020 07:06

I'm in the same boat OP and it is infuriating, it really is.

Everywhere I look, people seem to be getting tested or awaiting results and I have no idea how they're managing to get hold of tests.

It's really winding me up!

ceeveebee · 12/09/2020 07:11

@GoldfishParade

I just dont quite understand the logistics of testing tbh.

It takes a few days/weeks to develop symptoms. By the time you get around to thinking maybe you should have a test, you've probably infected others. If you have symptoms you can choose to self isolate anyway as a precaution.

So tests only really seem useful if you're planning long distance travel or need to care for someone vulnerable IMO.

Not everyone can afford to “choose to self isolate” particularly as it’s the whole household for 14 days - fine if you can wfh but not everyone can. What about teachers, nhs workers, retail workers?

I was seemingly quite lucky as my dd had symptoms on Monday, logged on just after 8pm and got her booked on for a test 8am on Tuesday, negative result the Wednesday night so the whole household now free to go back to work and school.

OP, I have been told that 8am and 8pm best times to try

ceeveebee · 12/09/2020 07:13

Also I would hope no one is getting tested on the nhs to plan “long distance travel”! There are private tests if people want to do that!

GoldfishParade · 12/09/2020 07:14

@ceeveebee
Good point, you're right. My work has always been WFH anyway, so I tend to forget what reality is like for most people and how difficult it must be to self isolate on most cases, yes!

scaevola · 12/09/2020 07:19

"It takes a few days/weeks to develop symptoms. By the time you get around to thinking maybe you should have a test, you've probably infected others. If you have symptoms you can choose to self isolate anyway as a precaution"

Incubation period is anywhere between 2 a 14 days (but most cases show at around 5-7 days). But people are not infectious until just before they show symptoms - around 2 days, and then remain infectious for days

So testing on the day someone becomes symptomatic reduces the amount of time the individual could potentially be infecting others (and people who show symptoms should isolate unless/until test shows it's Covid).

Plus the pattern of results gives epidemiologists and health planners the information they need

SexTrainGlue · 12/09/2020 07:20

Also I would hope no one is getting tested on the nhs to plan “long distance travel”! There are private tests if people want to do that!

Unless/until they remove the other option from the request a test form, people can (and so will) use it for this reason

FreshfieldsGal · 12/09/2020 07:21

Our DS was sent home sick from school yesterday, he had a sore throat, vomiting, and headache.
Booked him in for a test, we just kept trying on the website as it kept saying no test sites available but we eventually got a fairly local one about 20 miles away.

Hopefully he gets negative results today!

I've read people are being offered test centres hundreds of miles away though. I really struggle to believe the govt can successfully implement its moonshot plan.

Minesril · 12/09/2020 07:32

On another thread right now someone is suggesting that the parents of a teething baby with a temperature should get a test. People are getting tested who don't need to. Haven't there also been stories of people stockpiling just in case?

PortlyPotato · 12/09/2020 07:36

I'm really concerned that people will just give up if they can't get a test and come out of isolation. I already know of one family doing this.

We had to isolate for 3 days this week as one of the DC had a high temperature. But fortunately we managed to get a test and a negative result back.

If tests can't be come by the whole system falls apart!

IKEA888 · 12/09/2020 07:38

Here in Scotland the government had to issue a statement suggesting I'd you rhinknyour child has a cold don't get them tested.
When schools went back here a cold visit went round with some kids getting a temp for a few hours as part of it.
Testing went mad.
It's all calmed down now

Bluewavescrashing · 12/09/2020 07:38

People are using tests for sore throats, runny noses etc which are not covid symptoms. Meaning fewer tests left for the rest of us

Ontheroadtorecovery · 12/09/2020 07:43

I need a test for ds and can't get one tried most of yesterday and in the night then again this morning. I am wfh but cannot do that with a 3 and 5 Yr old around so not only will ds miss even more school. I had already kept Him at home some of this week because of the initial Cold he had, coughing didn't start til yesterday. 2 weeks work is a lot of money to lose and that's if work accept that I can't do my job for 2 weeks.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 12/09/2020 07:47

07:21FreshfieldsGal

Our DS was sent home sick from school yesterday, he had a sore throat, vomiting, and headache.
Booked him in for a test, we just kept trying on the website as it kept saying no test sites available but we eventually got a fairly local one about 20 miles away.

Non of which are coronavirus symptoms needting a test.
He just needs to be away from school h til he is 48 hours clear of vomiting

This is the problem

Hargao · 12/09/2020 07:48

They have removed the other from the form I think but people are now just lying about having symptoms and using it for travel testing.

Dinocan · 12/09/2020 07:55

The problem is childcare settings and schools are sending kids away at the slightest cough (symptoms in kids can vary massively and apparently lots of children don’t have the cough) based on the advice they have been given. I know someone who had this issue with their child minder recently. Child has cough, nhs said he didn’t need a test and the nearest centre was about a 5 hour drive away anyway, CM said that this completely contradicts the advice she’d been given and wouldn’t take child. Parents either face missing work for 2 weeks anyway, or asking grandparents (which is what they did). Way to ensure the population most at risk catch the virus, or lots of other potentially nasty viruses!

Floralbean · 12/09/2020 08:01

Our DS was sent home sick from school yesterday, he had a sore throat, vomiting, and headache.

People like this is why there are no tests available, none of these are covid symptoms so no, do not book a test FFS.

Lindy2 · 12/09/2020 08:02

It's becoming increasingly clear that vomiting is a symptom, particularly in children. Yet again though the official symptom list is lagging behind, just like it did with the loss of smell and taste.

I really hope testing capacity increases soon.

wherestheotherone · 12/09/2020 08:06

It's a nightmare. We eventually managed to get a test but the results aren't coming in a timely manner. Until we get results kids off school, we can't go into work (NHS frontline staff). The virus continues to spread during the delay.

It's a great system in theory but it failed on every level.

Snailsetssail · 12/09/2020 08:07

I’m a teacher- I can’t take 2 weeks off work just because my toddler has a cold. I need a test quickly to determine whether it’s Covid or not so that I can get back to work.

JalapenoCheeseOnToast · 12/09/2020 08:10

@Minesril my baby had a temp yesterday and is teething and has a cold from starting nursery. Her nursery told me even if you are certain the temp is from teething, cold or immunisations, they must be tested before returning

Xiaoxiong · 12/09/2020 08:14

Kids and I all have a cold but DS1 occasionally coughing as his asthma has been triggered as it always is when he gets a cold - hello, viral wheeze. Cue much googling of the definition of "new" and "persistent". Does he need a test, doesn't he need a test... a bout of 3-4 coughs once an hour, or less, doesn't seem to fit the definition.

No tests available anyway so it's all a bit academic.

Bluewavescrashing · 12/09/2020 08:14

@Snailsetssail as a key worker you should get a priority test.