Testing of shielded group without symptoms

[Straysocks]

My father has incurable cancer, he is in the shielded group. None of his household have left the house for 8 weeks. They have received deliveries of medicines and food outside and I have been there once a week as a carer to do tasks they cannot do independently. He's had a call today to say he will be visited tomorrow for a Coronavirus test to be done. He's had no symptoms, none of them have. Has anyone heard about this? If he is symptom free and shielded why is he being tested?

Who called & who will be visiting to carry out the test? Not heard of this & I have a shielded person.
He can refuse of course, no one can do anything without a patients consent. Is he due some treatment & they maybe be need to check he’s negative before going ahead?

The number he was called from is for Adult Services of the local CCG, I called back but no chance of speaking to someone on a Sunday. He does not know who will attend, he wonders if it is a District Nurse as they call every week to check in but I doubt this. He would usually have a monthly treatment, more of an assessment and preventive thing than actively treating the cancer and this has not happened since February. If it was from the oncology dept I would have expected them to inform him as he speaks to them quite often too. I just don't understand the point. I believe the test would just tell him whether or not he has it just now and there is no reason at all to think he does.

If it were us we would refuse. My husband is shielded due to lymphoma and currently going through chemotherapy and to me this would be non essential contact that would just put him at further risk. If the household have no symptoms or concerns I would think it is unnecessary.

@SammyAnne1024 I agree but want to know rationale. Will try to reach them in the morning

Would you mind letting us know what happens OP I have a family member on a similar position but hasn't been called in for a test.
I'm shielded I'd love an antibodies test.

I will @Didkdt. I'm going to speak to the Oncology team first thing to see what they think

Thanks straysocks I hope the talk goes well.

It looks like a misunderstanding! There was a call from the Adult Health Team, they did a CV checklist to see if he was safe or needed a test, they then said they'd call tomorrow at 10:30. I've spoken to that team this morning who said as all questionnaire responses were negative they would pass to District Nurses for a support PHONE call. They agreed that carrying out a test when no one symptomatic in household would cause unnecessary risk & be redundant. I'm standing down now!

Thanks for the update.