To think what on earth would possess someone to turn up to an A&E to ask for a COVID test?

[crosser62]

Bolton hospital have tweeted that over 100 people have attended A&E to request a COVID test in recent days.
They have politely asked that “people think of others” before making the decision to go to a very busy A&E to ask for a test.
To only attend if they have had an accident or have a life threatening injury or illness.
They also say where you can get advice re testing.
It beggars belief.
Having had first hand experiences of people demanding ambulances for the most outrageous things, I’m not surprised but for the love of all that is sensible, why do people do this?
This is just Bolton, are people turning up to A&E countrywide asking for tests?
The poor staff on triage will have their share of abusive patients AND relatives tripled because of this, telling people that they can’t have what they demand.
Jeez, the world has gone mad.
And I do not accept that it’s ok to tip up at an accident and emergency department because they can’t get testing anywhere else, this is blatantly not the right thing to do.

Yes, at this point in time honesty would be much better. Blaming the public for the consequences of your fuck ups just makes them belligerent.

It doesn’t help that the NHS website still lists only the 3 adult symptoms, specifically under “Coronavirus in Children” when 2 large, well respected studies undertaken in the UK that I read of last week, no doubt there are more elsewhere, have clearly demonstrated that children with Covid can display one or more an huge array of other symptoms.

Sorry, long sentence 😁

I imagine theres been a rise in testing of people that are quarantining for contact (like school bubbles) despite not needing it. Some people (evident on fb) don't want to quarantine and therefore have requested a test, thinking if its negative they can still go about their happy little lives as normal. Therefore those at actual risk or symptomatic cannot get tested.

For at least the first three months of this pandemic there simply were no tests in the UK. Everyone relied on self diagnosis and self care unless they got to a stage where they couldn't speak for struggling to breathe and were then taken to hospital.

I think you've completely misunderstood why people want tests. It isn't so they can get treatment - it's so that they can stop self-isolating and go back to work/school when the 99.9% probability that they've just got a cold is confirmed. If they can't do that then people will just start assuming it is a cold, and then in those 0.1% of cases where they do have Covid they will be spreading it. People aren't going to put themselves and their children under house arrest for two weeks repeatedly and risk losing their jobs; it's not a reasonable expectation.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Desperation. Fear. Confusion. And in some cases, entitlement.

Plus naivety, stupidity and yes arrogant outright sheer audacity (especially if piss taking non social distancing no hand hygiene unmasked not to be confused with the unmask-able) potentially super spreading into hospitals.

TBF, our local testing pod is at the hospital, 100 yards around the corner from the A&E entrance.

Plus a few other walk in testing areas locally, as cases are rising here (West Midlands)

@Hardbackwriter

For at least the first three months of this pandemic there simply were no tests in the UK. Everyone relied on self diagnosis and self care unless they got to a stage where they couldn't speak for struggling to breathe and were then taken to hospital.

I think you've completely misunderstood why people want tests. It isn't so they can get treatment - it's so that they can stop self-isolating and go back to work/school when the 99.9% probability that they've just got a cold is confirmed. If they can't do that then people will just start assuming it is a cold, and then in those 0.1% of cases where they do have Covid they will be spreading it. People aren't going to put themselves and their children under house arrest for two weeks repeatedly and risk losing their jobs; it's not a reasonable expectation.

I agree. Was annoyed when I seen the news this morning, they have put an awful slant on it.

Same thing happened in March. No tests available, so people went to A &E. If you have a sick child, you are worried and you will do everything to ensure they get tested. Paternal instincts.

@Porcupineinwaiting

If they make it two symptoms out of 3 for a test they may as well not bother. Masses of people dont get two symptoms and those that do tend to be sick at home and so not spreading it anyway. What we need the testing system to be is universally available to anyone with 1 symptom and to do extra tests to pick up asymptomatic people. Frankly if we've got money available to subsidise people to eat in restaurants, HS2 and to shoot badgers, we've got money for this.

Well they are going to have to do something until the labs can process the tests that are being done.

Yes the testing system should work. But it doesn’t and won’t for some weeks.

Dont use the loophole method advised above. Its taking away appointments assigned for Scottish ppl.

BBC News - Coronavirus: 'Use Scottish postcode,' test centre told visitors
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-54178000

My son is a patient at Alder Hey hospital and I had a text from them today:

“We have seen a big increase in children and young people attending the Emergency Department asking to be tested for COVID19.

Please note we are only testing children and young people who are being admitted to Alder Hey. Anyone else requiring a COVID19 test will need to follow guidance on the government website or phone 119 - www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test”

So yeah, Im guessing its a widespread issue!

S
T
U
P
I
D
I
T
Y