Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call 119

34 replies

JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 14:40

My mum lives alone, is partially sighted and has to take a PCR test. She is unable to do it herself or get to a test centre. Should I call 119 and ask if they have people who can go into the community to do this? Our whole family is having to self isolate as someone tested positive after our Christmas get together, so none of us can help her. We all tested before hand but obviously LFTs are not 100% foolproof.

OP posts:
R0tational · 29/12/2021 14:46

What is 119? You mean 118?

TheHoptimist · 29/12/2021 14:47

Go onto her local next-door site or similar and ask for help. Lots of community groups and volunteers

Why does she need a PCR? Wont a lateral flow do?

CorrBlimeyGG · 29/12/2021 14:54

District nurses can do this where it is vital, for instance where an immobile person needs a test prior to hospital admission. Is it for a particular purpose, or because she is a close contact? If the latter, I'd assume she has it and forget the test.

Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:02

@R0tational

What is 119? You mean 118?
What's 118?
OP posts:
hugr · 29/12/2021 15:02

@R0tational

What is 119? You mean 118?
119 is the Covid line
Auntycorruption · 29/12/2021 15:03

@JesusSufferingFuck22

My mum lives alone, is partially sighted and has to take a PCR test. She is unable to do it herself or get to a test centre. Should I call 119 and ask if they have people who can go into the community to do this? Our whole family is having to self isolate as someone tested positive after our Christmas get together, so none of us can help her. We all tested before hand but obviously LFTs are not 100% foolproof.
Why are you all self isolating? That's not necessary any more if only 1 is positive? You could order her a postal PCR and help her do it? Does she actually have symptoms or need a test?
Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:06

@TheHoptimist

Go onto her local next-door site or similar and ask for help. Lots of community groups and volunteers

Why does she need a PCR? Wont a lateral flow do?

I don't know if she'd be comfortable with some random albeit helpful person.
She has no LFTs. No email or mobile. Another family member used their tests and did all her Christmas ones for her.
OP posts:
Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:08

@CorrBlimeyGG

District nurses can do this where it is vital, for instance where an immobile person needs a test prior to hospital admission. Is it for a particular purpose, or because she is a close contact? If the latter, I'd assume she has it and forget the test.
You know, I was thinking this too. We should just assume she has it and have her self isolate until one of us is clear and can do an LFT.
OP posts:
Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 29/12/2021 15:09

I thought, in England, you only had to self isolate as a close contact if you were either unvaccinated or lived in the house with them.
Other than that you just need to do a LFT everyday for 7 days and take a PCR of positive or if you develop symptoms.

BingBongToTheMoon · 29/12/2021 15:10

@Auntycorruption Not in Scotland, everyone isolates for 10 days.

BingBongToTheMoon · 29/12/2021 15:11

@Ohshitiveturnedintomymother

I thought, in England, you only had to self isolate as a close contact if you were either unvaccinated or lived in the house with them. Other than that you just need to do a LFT everyday for 7 days and take a PCR of positive or if you develop symptoms.
OP might not be in England though.
kimlo · 29/12/2021 15:11

is nobody in your family double vacinated and testing negative on a lf?

MerryChristmas21 · 29/12/2021 15:11

Does she not have any carers come in at all?

PrivateHall · 29/12/2021 15:12

Who is going in to look after her? Surely they can do it if she needs a test?

CaptaNoctem · 29/12/2021 15:17

@Ohshitiveturnedintomymother

I thought, in England, you only had to self isolate as a close contact if you were either unvaccinated or lived in the house with them. Other than that you just need to do a LFT everyday for 7 days and take a PCR of positive or if you develop symptoms.
Just because it isn't legally required doesn't mean it isn't sensible and responsible behaviour.

A lot of people are erring on the side of caution and are assuming that as a close contact they are probably infected so are self isolating until they know differently for sure. You can infect a lot of people before a test shows positive. I'd already been ill for 5 days before I got a positive test for my "cold".

Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:18

[quote BingBongToTheMoon]@Auntycorruption Not in Scotland, everyone isolates for 10 days.[/quote]
Yes we are in Scotland. It's a bit confusing having different rules.

OP posts:
Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:20

@kimlo

is nobody in your family double vacinated and testing negative on a lf?
We are in Scotland and I think rules are different to England. We are all vaccinated up to the eyeballs. 2 family members have now tested positive. One with PCR one with LFT
OP posts:
User2638483 · 29/12/2021 15:20

Is it necessary?
I would’ve thought a lateral flow would suffice if she hasn’t got symptoms. Why can’t she do it? Is it about seeing the result in which case can she someone show you over a video call? Or if it’s about the fine motor skills and sight to do it, does she need help with other aspects of daily living in which case can’t whoever helps her with other things support her with that too?

Is she planning to go out/mix anywhere?

Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:21

@MerryChristmas21

Does she not have any carers come in at all?
No, she's quite independent and physically able apart from her eyesight and has trouble taking in information.
OP posts:
Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:22

@PrivateHall

Who is going in to look after her? Surely they can do it if she needs a test?
She doesn't need a carer at present. Fortunately she is well stocked up. She said she has enough food to last about 2 weeks!
OP posts:
usernamealreadytaken · 29/12/2021 15:22

Does she have symptoms? PCR is only necessary if you either have symptoms, or a +ve LFD test.

Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 15:25

@User2638483

Is it necessary? I would’ve thought a lateral flow would suffice if she hasn’t got symptoms. Why can’t she do it? Is it about seeing the result in which case can she someone show you over a video call? Or if it’s about the fine motor skills and sight to do it, does she need help with other aspects of daily living in which case can’t whoever helps her with other things support her with that too?

Is she planning to go out/mix anywhere?

She can't see well enough to do it. She doesn't have a smartphone and has trouble understanding information. It was a difficult task for another relative who did the Christmas LFT for her!
OP posts:
kimlo · 29/12/2021 15:32

ah scotland. So she needs to isolate until she's had a pcr.

Couls you order her a pcr to be delivered then the first person to test negative and be released go and help her?

Original poster
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 29/12/2021 16:07

@kimlo

ah scotland. So she needs to isolate until she's had a pcr.

Couls you order her a pcr to be delivered then the first person to test negative and be released go and help her?

A family member has organised one to be sent out to her and is going to attempt to talk her through itConfused I don't envy them that job at all.
I just wondered if there was a service for people in her situation. She can't be the only one.
OP posts:
kimlo · 29/12/2021 16:24

she can't be. I had never thought about it. Only thing I could think of would be paitent transport to a walk though testing center.

Swipe left for the next trending thread