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

[MrsBertBibby]

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?

This is the same in hospitals - everyone visiting (which is heavily restricted) or having procedures will still need to test because realistically, the NHS and care homes are not just going to go 'oh Boris has said it's over so we don't have to bother anymore' and then get ripped to shit by the public when more people die - they won't take that risk.

NHS and care homes are still at full March 2020 covid restrictions, literally very little has changed in 2 years and at this point, I doubt it ever will.

@HermioneWeasley

It’s £20 for a box of 7.

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

It’s not for free. We pay taxes. 🙄

I would be happy for my tax contributions to be spent on this.

£9.50 for 4 from Boots apparently

I think the government will still have to provide some tests (although it now apparently now comes out of the NHS budget for hospital workers). But if they have it run through care homes as covid did at the start there would be very bad press - my prediction is some places, like care homes, will get a supply of free tests. I bloody hope so anyway.

And I do feel strongly that if people do have to pay it should be price capped. And that if they are compulsory for people to work somewhere the employer should have to pay for them- I can see all too clearly somewhere like Sports Direct insisting people see tested or they won't get hours but expect zero hour workers to pay.

@MrsWinters

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

There is an argument tests should continue as free until late spring until the case rate is even lower.

Some public disease experts also argue our govt would be wise to invest in improved ventilation in buildings to hopefully help keep community rates lower. Lower community rates benefits all. Govt have zero plans to do this.

They're being sold in singles already, £3.75:

www.workwearexpress.com/flowflex-coronavirus-antigen-lateral-flow-test-kit-uk-approved?gclid=CjwKCAiAsNKQBhAPEiwAB-I5zfsbsuRsM7wAJ4r5A2FrBWtUQh5-8u7OSS0fHm2oZGKXb54PeUnjOhoCfN4QAvD_BwE

Residents of care homes have been treated awfully during the pandemic and if it is correct that visitors are still going to have to do LFTs once they need to be paid for this is just another example of the dreadful way they have been treated. Not many people are in care homes by choice, but due to challenges which mean they cannot be looked after in their own homes. These residents are mostly unable to stand up for their rights and they are now potentially facing their family and friends having to pay to see them, if the government or care homes insist on LFTs to visit then the care homes or government should be paying for them.

Care homes cost a fortune as it is, I’d expect a pack a month or something giving a few free tests to each residents key family member

@kitcat15

Stock pile a few from government website....and get rest of your family to as well .... although people will wade in and tell you its morally wrong🙄 ( except its not ....so do it....there's none just now I just tried...but if you try just after midnight you are more likely to get some)

I just ordered some ok.

Yeay. Increased work expenses that I can't claim back!

@Porfre

Why are the care home.still asking for tests?

No one knows whether they will . It may be up to the individual care home manager .

The care home I visit actually offer tests if you run out .

And if its £3 per visit to keep residents safe then I don’t think that is extortionate .

It’d be nice if the gov would supply them to care homes still, it would make a lot of sense too. However it’s a small price to pay to keep your family member safe.

I am bit on the fence about this. I am in the EU and the tests have never been free. On the other hand, no-one has been doing them daily either, like seems to be case in the UK. I have done one LFT ever. It was negative. I think for really vulnerable settings like hospitals/medical appointments and care homes etc. you should get a test before you enter and the govt should be paying for these.

£2bn spent on testing PER MONTH by the government. It needs to stop.

@onlyforcake why? Surely employers would have to cover this stuff?

It is a shock that people have to pay for it now and also how self isolation is ending. It does feel a bit like - good luck getting covid!

We have been very lucky to receive so many free tests as most other countries have not been receiving endless packs of free tests. Of course we are all paying for these tests and there has to come an end point. Stock up what you can but then unfortunately not much you can do, though the home might stop requiring tests at some point soon anyway

Keep trying re the tests as I got some ordered on my 6th try today

@EmmaH2022

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

Is it ? Not everyone visiting care homes are automatically people who can’t afford the tests. You are making a lot of assumptions .

Everything has a cost, you pay for the fuel to drive there and the car to drive there in, or the bus fare to ride the bus, you walk, you pay for the food you ate to fuel your legs, the clothes you wear so you can go outside..

Nothing is free and the cost is £20 for a box of tests, not per test.

No you should pay to visit, those greedy fuckers imprisoned in care homes, how dare they want people to visit in their last week's and months. You don't have to visit, you entitled nobhead.

Fucking hell op, I'm sorry about the replies, if it needs to be clearer above is sarcastic . Sometimes I am so fucking embarrassed by the population. Complain about PPE contracts to cronies, Complain about MPs expenses, Complain about test and fucking trace and bloody Harding, but to think someone is entitled because they want to see their loved one.... fuck me.

I’d be happy to see tests free via means testing - perhaps via pharmacy using same criteria as prescriptions.

Otherwise… just how long do you think taxes should be spent on them?

@michaellocust

This is the same in hospitals - everyone visiting (which is heavily restricted) or having procedures will still need to test because realistically, the NHS and care homes are not just going to go 'oh Boris has said it's over so we don't have to bother anymore' and then get ripped to shit by the public when more people die - they won't take that risk.

NHS and care homes are still at full March 2020 covid restrictions, literally very little has changed in 2 years and at this point, I doubt it ever will.

It's the same in private hospitals too. Many patients on long-term psych wards are still being restricted in terms of no visitors allowed on the wards, isolation in your room if you have any symptoms, regular testing for everyone and isolation if you test positive even with no symptoms. This isn't like isolation in your own home. This is isolation in one room. No seeing anyone, no fresh air, no shower, no cigarettes. I have even been told sometimes staff forget to order food for those isolating as patients normally do it themselves.

I always thought it was a bit crazy anyway as patients are living in close quarters with each other so not sure isolating makes much difference. But now it is even less reasonable.

I am totally on your side OP.

Testing should have been cut back, not totally got rid of.

There is no need for my children to be doing tests twice a week to go to school. But test should be available for free for NHS and Social Care workers, for visitors to care homes and to those who have symptoms of Covid.