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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about covid test for travel

51 replies

seashells11 · 31/05/2021 08:49

I don't understand why the NHS test for covid isn't acceptable for travel to other countries. The government require that only the expensive covid -19 PCR test is acceptable.

Obviously this is going to make travel too expensive for some families. Why isn't the big standard NHS test good enough I wonder....and if it isn't why are they using it at all. All about money I presume?

OP posts:
Original poster
seashells11 · 31/05/2021 08:51

*bog not big

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 31/05/2021 08:52

Also, why is the test x times more expensive than in MANY other places.

HangingOver · 31/05/2021 08:52

The PCR before you leave is a condition of the country you're going to. Rapid Antigen is/was actually accepted for some countries if you read carefully. From memory Germany at one point was accepting them but I can't remember if they are now. Greece also accepting proof of double vaccination in lieu of a PCR for entry. Day 2, or Day 2 & 8 when you get back is currently non-negotiable when you get back though.

hopingtochangeeachtime · 31/05/2021 08:52

To get the NHS one you have to
have symptoms. The private one issues a fit to fly certificate, so that's what you are paying for. I did think Boris might ok the lateral flows we can do at home for travel, but not so far 🤞

Bramblespoint · 31/05/2021 08:54

It's not that it isn't good enough. It's that the NHS test is for symptomatic people. The government are not paying for you to go away on holiday.

If you need vaccines such as yellow fever you'd pay for those - this is no different.

Why should the tax payer fund people's holidays Hmm

Whyarewehardofthinking · 31/05/2021 08:55

Why should the Government pay for it? I already had to wait 3 days for my last PCR test (teacher in a school apparently riddled with COVID) and people having an unnecessary test adds to that.

If you want to go on holiday you accept that you need to pay for a test; they aren't free. There is the cost of the test, the staff at the site/postage and the staff, equipment and reagents in the lab.

Why should they be free to you, someone going on holiday and not someone with symptoms or part of the surge testing?

MonsterMash2210 · 31/05/2021 08:55

I would assume they want to ensure they have enough capacity to provide and process tests for symptomatic Covid cases.

I doubt anyone wants to go back to the testing chaos we had last September where people were being sent to testing centers miles away and most people were waiting a long time for their results.

Symptomatic testing should be prioritised above tests for travel.

Original poster
seashells11 · 31/05/2021 08:55

They test children and NHS staff regularly with the NHS one don't they? They don't have symptoms.

OP posts:
DeathStare · 31/05/2021 08:56

Why should people who can't afford to go on holiday subsidise the holidays of those richer than them?

The NHS is there for health treatment not to facilitate holidays

Original poster
seashells11 · 31/05/2021 08:57

Perhaps charge for it, but a reasonable amount.

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 31/05/2021 08:57

It's that the NHS test is for symptomatic people.

Nhs is certainly not testing just people with symptoms. The opposit actually. I think that's the test op meant. If you show positive on it then you get the PCR at home.

Shame that isn't accepted. I understand why home self test isn't. Anyone could just get negative one. Like that you have message to prove

Hopdathelf · 31/05/2021 08:58

Why should the tax payer fund people's holidays

This.

School children have lateral flow tests. Not sure about NHS workers but are you really saying you can’t see the difference between healthcare workers having tests to stop the spread to vulnerable patients and holiday makers being allowed to have a jolly to the Algarve?

DeathStare · 31/05/2021 08:59

They test children and NHS staff regularly with the NHS one don't they? They don't have symptoms

Because education and safe health provision are essentials. A foreign holiday isn't. Do you realise how spoiled and entitled you sound?

Foofbrush · 31/05/2021 08:59
  1. School tests and NHS staff tests are LF
  1. Even if they were PCR, if you can't see the problem with your statement, I wonder why you bothered to start this thread, since you've decided you are right anyway
KeyWorker · 31/05/2021 08:59

It’s the same PCR test, it’s just the NHS obviously isn’t going to pay if it’s because you want a holiday are they. The test available on the NHS is for if you are unwell.

Star81 · 31/05/2021 09:01

They can’t be seen to encourage people to travel which is why none of the government tests can be used. Seems fair enough to me that you have to add it in as a cost of travel and I say that as someone who will be travelling.

sirfredfredgeorge · 31/05/2021 09:01

If the NHS test required the sort of hard identity checks that are required for travel, then they would be much much more expensive to carry out, and would discourage some people from taking them.

Peccary · 31/05/2021 09:02

Only with the lateral flows which are cheaper and don't require specialist technical skill to process. These aren't good enough for fit to fly.

NHS doesn't issue a certificate, that would be a extra cost to the taxpayer

You want to travel? It's just an extra cost you have to swallow

ab21 · 31/05/2021 09:02

Have to say I wouldn't expect holiday goers to use the NHS tests. I believe you only need the lateral flow type tests pre departure back to the U.K., though many countries require the more expensive PCR tests on leaving the U.K.

We've just priced up the costs of tests for our family of four (two of us have been double vaccinated which reduces it a bit). Even with the BA discount codes and looking for the cheapest providers, the necessary tests would cost us just under £500 for a green list destination and £1,000 for an amber country with test to release (based on the holidays we've booked to Greece/US).

It's a lot of money, though I suspect our accommodation is cheaper than usual because demand is lower for amber list destinations. Completely appreciate that allowing holidays divides option but the lack of visibility is making it quite stressful as our departure is early July. The US is tipped not to make the green list, but a travel corridor may be announced at the G7, however that's another two weeks away.

Slightly envious of my sister's holidays booked in Cornwall and the Peak District as trying to work out abroad options has been very time consuming.

KeyWorker · 31/05/2021 09:03

And I think you are confusing lateral flow tests (used for asymptotic children and NHS staff as you put it) and a PCR test performed in a lab.

Just a guess but I presume the NHS are not in a position to subsidise the cost of your travel requirements hence why you are expected to pay an approved private provider.

jacks11 · 31/05/2021 09:07

YABU

The lateral flow test has a reasonably high false negative rate. The PCR test is far more accurate, but significantly more expensive (and takes longer for the result to be available). That is why the PCR test is used for those who are symptomatic or prior to planned admissions/at the point of admission in emergencies. Lateral flow tests are used for general surveillance.

If you want to travel abroad then I don’t think it unreasonable for the country to which you are travelling to want to be reasonably sure that you aren’t infected. This country also needs to be sure you aren’t going to be a source of infection on your return. We know that a significant cause of the rise in cases towards the end of the summer and into the autumn was foreign holidays. So, we need to be as sure as we can be that this years holidays don’t cause more problems.

Holidays abroad are not essential, so if this is needed to keep things manageable and under control, then that’s what must happen. If that means holidays are more expensive, then that’s just how it is.

Unanananana · 31/05/2021 09:09

Why should the NHS pay for you to go on holiday? The advice currently is to only go abroad if essential. If you are going on a jolly, you definately pay for that. If you have enough money to pay for an extortionate holiday right now, I'm sure you can dig a little deeper and pay for PCR test.

Are you really shocked you have to pay or just trying to start a bunfight?

ChairmansReserve · 31/05/2021 09:10

Why do you think poor people in the uk should pay for rich people to go on holiday?

We went abroad in December. The pcr tests with fit to fly certificates for four of us cost £600.

We paid it and didn't complain that the NHS wasn't subsidising our holiday, because we're not cunts.

lurker101 · 31/05/2021 09:10

@seashells11

Perhaps charge for it, but a reasonable amount.
What would you consider a reasonable amount?
BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 31/05/2021 09:11

I understand why the NHS PCR tests aren't allowed to be used. They are for people with symptoms, expensive, take time to process and if everyone started using them for travel would cause a strain on the system which would mean symptomatic people having to wait longer for their results.

What I don't understand is that currently the UK government requires a test to be taken before flying to the UK, this can be PCR or LFT, but the NHS LFT tests can't be used. Why? We test twice weekly here anyway, so we always have boxes of the tests at home. If we weren't going away the tests would be used anyway as part of our usual self testing regime which the government are happy to provide us with. We're not taking away tests from symptomatic people or using up space in the labs for tests our holiday. I don't see why we can't take the tests that we already have and would use anyway if we were at home with us to use before travelling back to the UK.