I don't think they should be universally free but there should be a system where if you need any kind of test - whether LFT or PCR - then they can be issued free of charge.
So fir example if you have a relative in a care home and the care home requires an LFT to enter then every resident should be issued X amount of LFTs a month for visitors that the care home can order via the NHS. If you go over that amount then they have to pay but there should be a basic allowance.
I am having surgery in a week, it's NHS but done at a hospital 3 hours away in a different trust as there's no surgeon who works anywhere closer within my local NHS Trust. I had a date cancelled 4 weeks ago due to, ironically, staff having covid. Before my surgery I have to have a PCR test.
The hospital requires it 3 days before surgery and have a test site at the hospital which is very impractical to attend as it's a 6hr round trip, I don't drive and I can't use public transport as I have to isolate after the test. I used to live round the corner from a local walk through test centre. For my previous date I just booked a test, went on the day and emailed the hospital when I got the confirmation email. Now the test centre has closed but the hospital still require a PCR test. I can't get one at my local hospital because the result would only be accessible to hospitals within my local trust and they don't have at home NHS PCR kits you can do and register online so I've just had to pay £70 for a private PCR test at a Boots 30 miles away because that was cheaper and less time consuming than the petrol and time to go to the operating hospital and back.
It is such an infuriating system - I don't understand why they don't ask you to do an LFT a few days before and then provide a negative LFT on the day? It's stressful enough going into hospital for surgery without adding yet another thing to do.