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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I shouldn't have to pay to see my mum

352 replies

MrsBertBibby · 22/02/2022 19:15

Just that. "Freedom" is no such thing for care home residents. Imprisoned and deprived of family and now, if we want to visit, we must shell out £20 for a test.

Is it unreasonable to call this government absolute sick psychopaths?

OP posts:
tillytoodles1 · 22/02/2022 19:17

It's £20 for a pack, not each. Surely you want to protect your mum from Covid.

elliejjtiny · 22/02/2022 19:17

Yanbu

There are some groups of people who have been completely disregarded by the government. I'm so sorry.

Yeahbutnotreally · 22/02/2022 19:18

@tillytoodles1

It's £20 for a pack, not each. Surely you want to protect your mum from Covid.
Not everyone can shell out £20, even for a pack.
AladdinPrincess999 · 22/02/2022 19:20

That's terrible. Sad

HermioneWeasley · 22/02/2022 19:20

It’s £20 for a box of 7.

The government can’t provide free everything for everyone forever.

cadburyegg · 22/02/2022 19:21

YANBU. So sorry OP. My dad was in a home during the pandemic (from July 2020 til he died in March 2021). It was one of the worst times of my life.

Thanks
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 22/02/2022 19:21

But the government can't be expected to just hand out unlimited free tests forever.

Someone, somewhere has to pay for it.

Bollindger · 22/02/2022 19:23

Your being asked to prove your safe not asked to pay to visit.

pitterpatterrain · 22/02/2022 19:23

They haven’t been free in all countries - are their governments “absolute sick psychopaths”?

Porfre · 22/02/2022 19:25

Why are the care home.still asking for tests?

Wnkingawalrus · 22/02/2022 19:26

@pitterpatterrain

They haven’t been free in all countries - are their governments “absolute sick psychopaths”?
Yes, quite. It’s a classic case of the more you give, the more people expect.
ClariceQuiff · 22/02/2022 19:27

This is the problem with the 'back to normal' approach. On the one hand the government are saying 'Yay, no more restrictions, we'll live with Covid like with live with the flu from now one' - but when you dig deeper, actually we are not 'back to normal' and you still need a test here, a mask there.

Now people are stockpiling the free tests, predictably.

It's a bit of a mess.

In your specific situation, OP, it would make sense for the care home to have a supply of free LFTs that visitors could take on arrival - you could wait outside/in your car for the test to develop.

Overthebow · 22/02/2022 19:27

The government can’t pay for tests forever. Boots will be selling them £12.50 for 5, not £20 per test.

EmmaH2022 · 22/02/2022 19:27

This is appalling
They handed out tons of the bloody things to people who didn't need them and now this!
So sorry OP.

GirlInACountrySong · 22/02/2022 19:28

well do you want the taxpayers to pay for you? some things you have to just suck up.

did you buy your own masks?

UserWithNoUserName · 22/02/2022 19:28

I think if the care home want you to test, they should provide a cheaper option.

MrsWinters · 22/02/2022 19:29

It’s not the governments money, it’s taxpayer money and we can’t keep paying for Covid forever.
I’m not sure why I should be paying for a requirement for you to visit a family member. I wouldn’t pay for your parking or your petrol

DrManhattan · 22/02/2022 19:29

The UK is a rich country, the government just spunked billions on PPE contracts, I am sure they can stretch to tests for care homes.

Overthebow · 22/02/2022 19:30

To think I shouldn't have to pay to see my mum19

Who do you think should pay? The taxpayer? The care home (so care fees will rise? Why not you?

SickAndTiredAgain · 22/02/2022 19:31

My understanding is that in a lot of countries (RoI for example) LFTs were never free. So while I’m no fan of this government, on this specific issue they’ve given more than others.

Feelinglow27 · 22/02/2022 19:31

Wow
Just wow. Some of the opinions on here are disgusting.

EmmaH2022 · 22/02/2022 19:32

@GirlInACountrySong

well do you want the taxpayers to pay for you? some things you have to just suck up.

did you buy your own masks?

If you walk past the schools here, last year we were seeing unopened boxes in the bushes. The council were handing out boxes in the street.

They always planned to start charging so they could have given those tests to care homes.

Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 22/02/2022 19:32

Part of the blame lies with those hoarding tests and taking one a day everyday ‘just in case’ as this would have convinced the gov that they can’t keep providing them at this rate for free forever.
How many posts have you seen on here with people during the Christmas period taking at least one test a day if not two or three? This behaviour has mean that testing is out of control and unsustainable in the long term.
Ask the people who have been stockpiling them to give them to you 🤷‍♀️

SockFluffInTheBath · 22/02/2022 19:33

Is it unreasonable to call this government absolute sick psychopaths?

Nope, YANBU but paying for LFTs ‘post’-Covid doesn’t even make the top 20 reasons they’re sick psychopaths.

ClariceQuiff · 22/02/2022 19:34

did you buy your own masks?

This isn't a valid comparison.

You could make your own masks. If you used old clothes, the only cost was thread and elastic if you didn't already have those things in the house. My masks didn't cost me a penny.

Even if you're unable to do very basic sewing, you could buy reusable masks very cheaply in Lidl, Tesco, etc.

You can't make your own LFTs.

You can't reuse a LFT.

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