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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:
Pyewhacket · 22/02/2022 20:28

@HermioneWeasley

It’s £20 for a box of 7.

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

This, with bells on.
Badgergirl123 · 22/02/2022 20:33

@Feelinglow27

Wow Just wow. Some of the opinions on here are disgusting.
Couldn't agree with you more. Thoroughly depressing.
lightisnotwhite · 22/02/2022 20:34

What are we keeping them safe from? If the 95 year old Queen can get Covid with priceless security it all seems a bit redundant really.

CIaireFraser · 22/02/2022 20:36

Sorry, OP. It's a right bunch of bollocks.

Immunosuppressed people need access to free LFTs also but have been told they can only have free PCRs if they're symptomatic.

It seems nuts that people have been told to protect themselves but the best way to do that (particularly for immunosuppressed people for whom vaccines don't work) is being withdrawn.

Snoken · 22/02/2022 20:40

We have all been paying for them all along, the only difference is that now only those who needs them pay for them. They are only 2-3 pounds each.

HappyAsASandboy · 22/02/2022 20:40

L
Got

sjxoxo · 22/02/2022 20:44

YANBU.
I think j the government should pay actually, for groups that are vulnerable.
Alternatively the care home should provide free tests for visitors. They can afford it, no question. The care home system of big care home ‘groups’ is a sham because of the way they are structured- they are piled with debt as they are usually part of complex investment structures. Small homes are different but bigger care home companies are deliberately piled with debt as capital is invested against their value & future value. Make no mistake - they can afford to provide free tests, they will choose not to.

YADNBU op. Xo

NothingIsWrong · 22/02/2022 20:45

@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?

What, so you want the taxpayer to keep funding them?
OchonAgusOchonOh · 22/02/2022 20:45

@SickAndTiredAgain

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.
Not true.

Antigen tests are free to those with symptoms if they are younger than 40 (PCRs for 40 and older) and to all close contacts older than 3.

Things are changing next week, with PCRs only available to those over 55. I'm not sure what's happening with antigen tests then.

Momijin · 22/02/2022 20:47

The govt can easily afford to provide free tests for its population. Have you any idea how much money they wasted awarding contracts to their mates?

RusticCharminglyCrumbled · 22/02/2022 20:50

You absolutely shouldn't have to pay for a test to see your mum. Seeing her is important for your health and wellness and hers too. Just like I'm happy to contribute to "free" education and "free" prescriptions I'm more than happy to contribute to the cost of necessary tests. I'd be thrilled if I could also contribute to "free" residential care, especially if it was staffed by the right people with the right experience and managed not for profit.

gogohm · 22/02/2022 20:51

By the time the free tests end care homes may not require them. Dsd's you a stopping the requirement at the end of the month.

RoastedFerret · 22/02/2022 20:52

Not true.
Antigen tests are free to those with symptoms if they are younger than 40 (PCRs for 40 and older) and to all close contacts older than 3.

Ah now, we both know that it was true for the vast majority of the pandemic, maybe the past two months only it hasn't been the case.

I think you are unreasonable.It's a couple of quid, sure you probably have to pay for a bus or petrol to visit too. There are costs involved in everything. That's just life.

gogohm · 22/02/2022 20:54

@2YearsOfWastedTime

Did the care home demand flu tests or common cold tests before covid? Did they check every visitor for norovirus (far more common than covid) no they didn't. Covid is in that category now

Tilltheend99 · 22/02/2022 20:55

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

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

Someone, somewhere has to pay for it.

Could have been payed for out of the 37billion wasted on the nonexistent contact tracing part of the system that never worked.

I would rather the op had her £20 payed to visit her mum out of that money then for it to have go to ‘consultants’ for Dido Harding being payed £6,000 a day with no accountability.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.consultancy.uk/news/amp/29654/test-and-trace-consultants-come-under-further-scrutiny

MrsClatterbuck · 22/02/2022 20:56

I have to do a lft to enable me see my relative. This is required by the home and they gave me my 1st box of tests. Went to order a box online today but they were not available to order. So people are already stockpiling.

GrendelsGrandma · 22/02/2022 20:56

Gawd, the tax brigade are out tonight.

It's an absolute false economy to make people pay for tests. If someone can't afford it and gets care home inhabitants sick, even if only one needs hospital treatment it will hugely outweigh the cost of testing.

Care homes should have free tests to give to regular visitors. You could do it without needing to give them to everyone.

Lalliella · 22/02/2022 20:56

YANBU. And the government are absolutely sick psychopaths for this and lots of reasons.

I don’t think charging comes in till 1 April so order lots of tests before then.

michaellocust · 22/02/2022 20:58

[quote gogohm]@2YearsOfWastedTime

Did the care home demand flu tests or common cold tests before covid? Did they check every visitor for norovirus (far more common than covid) no they didn't. Covid is in that category now[/quote]
You're deluded if you think that. Or a Boris supporter.

RedToothBrush · 22/02/2022 20:59

Boots have announced they will be selling lfts from tomorrow online.

From next month they will be in stores for £12 for a pack of 4.

willweevergetthere · 22/02/2022 21:00

The government has committed to free until March 2023 for those that were receiving it. So hospices, gps, care homes etc.
They can still order per tests and lateral flow test for their staff for free at the moment. They can also order them for non staff I.e visitors for free right now..............

HereIfYouNeedMe · 22/02/2022 21:01

I have maybe 4 boxes I can post to you if it helps

EatSleepRantRepeat · 22/02/2022 21:01

@Cocomarine

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?

I'd be happy to do this too - and it's likely my employer would let me expense them. No point adding to the tax burden for other people if I don't have to.
Tilltheend99 · 22/02/2022 21:02

@Momijin

The govt can easily afford to provide free tests for its population. Have you any idea how much money they wasted awarding contracts to their mates?
Exactly this but as always people wanting to feed their kids in n half term or visit vulnerable relatives need to justify the meagre expense, even in the eyes of the general public, but cabinet members awarding contracts to their mates for unusable substandard ppe and the like are given a license to spunk money up the wall because financial responsibility doesn’t apply to them only to mugs like us.
NoddyMcdoddy · 22/02/2022 21:02

Tad dramatic. Here in ireland we never got free antigen tests same as in a lot of other countries. If bought in bulk they cost 1 to 2 quid per test.

No one moaned about, we just got on with it.

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