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Original poster

Testing shortage?

41 replies

RowboatsinDisguise · 27/08/2020 10:49

I have come down with what in all likelihood is a cold but obviously due to coughing/sore throat/headache the responsible thing to do is have a test. However the two nearest testing centres have no availability for testing! Nearest test centre was a 2 hour drive away when I tried to book online! Called 119 and they confirmed that they had no availability closer. I have ended up being able to get one through work this afternoon as they said a postal test might not arrive until Saturday.

Is there something going on with tests?

OP posts:
Realitea · 27/08/2020 10:53

My dh ordered a test yesterday and it says it’ll be delivered by tonight. I did one on Monday and still don’t have results. It got to me quickly though and there was availability for a drive in test.
Very strange! I thought they had loads of availability for testing now

PrincessForADay · 27/08/2020 11:23

I'm in Scotland and I think there may be a shortage. We ordered 4 tests on Monday - one arrived at nighttime on Tuesday snd the others still aren't here. No availability for drive through testing apparently

Original poster
RowboatsinDisguise · 27/08/2020 11:26

I wonder if it’s not because everyone is catching colds now...

OP posts:
lurker101 · 27/08/2020 11:28

If you select “no access to a car” you should be able to get a post a one delivered by amazon

sunseekin · 27/08/2020 11:35

My friend in Scotland said that where was they had to put it up to two of the covid symptoms where she is last week and that people were being asked to go to Newcastle. She put the increased demand down to schools going back.

DamitJanet · 27/08/2020 11:39

There have been a few reports over the past week or so about test shortages. It seems unclear whether it’s a resource or demand issue though

FrankSkinnerFan2020 · 27/08/2020 11:53

I’m in the SE & for the past 2 days the nearest drive through test available was 4 hours away.
Requested a home test at 12.30pm only to be told the days allocated tests had all gone & to try the next day

Original poster
RowboatsinDisguise · 27/08/2020 12:11

@FrankSkinnerFan2020 That’s interesting as I’m also in the SE!

I can get swabbed this afternoon at work but I’ve been told they won’t give me the results until Tuesday!

OP posts:
Bol87 · 27/08/2020 12:53

Probably. Every time someone has a headache or snivvle on here they get shouted at to have a test. Literally, any symptom. I saw someone say they had an upset stomach & they got a test?! I know Covid can have a range if symptoms but we will run out of tests if people are getting tests for symptoms of every illness in existence. I had a horrific headache that made me sick yesterday. I wouldn’t dream of getting tested. But I see people being told to get tested for symptoms like these all the time 🤯

OddBoots · 27/08/2020 12:56

I read they were sending each school 10 tests, not many per school but a lot to send out at once on top of normal testing, could this be causing an issue?

Watwing · 27/08/2020 13:11

Yup. Kid had a minor temp so nursery sent them home. Nearest test is an 85 mile drive away....

Enoughnowstop · 27/08/2020 13:45

Had the same last week - I was testing 'cos told to by the app but didn't think it would be positive (had been very tired and had thrown up randomly which I reported). Nearest text centre was 15 miles away. I am not sure how they can manage things but ultimately, people won't be testing if they are feeling unwell and have to go a distance they consider too far (I guess that will vary from person to person). The postal test came quickly (next day) but it was a further 75 hours from posting before I got the result.

KitKatastrophe · 27/08/2020 13:53

Probably because everyone is testing for sore throats, runny nose and headaches rather than actual symptoms of covid.

Violet956 · 27/08/2020 13:58

I have what is more than likely a cold, my son does too. Returning to work next week and son starting childminder, I tried to get tests. Closest driving one was 60+ miles away, I called the number at 7.30am this was Tuesday, I was told no availability for home tests, try again after 12.
I logged onto gov again and saw there was availability for a walk in centre in my home town for a test that afternoon! Perfect.
Booked it, had confirmation emails etc. Turned up to n empty car park, just cones. No testing site in sight, just one yellow road sign saying "covid testing"
I waited for 30 minutes in case a mobile unit would turn up, but it didn't. Lots of other people also turning up too!
I managed to log on and get a home test in the end. Arrived last night, sent off this morning.

ProfessorPootle · 27/08/2020 14:35

I’ve got one being delivered by amazon today, wanted to do the drive through option but closest available was 100miley away (I’m in London so there’s lots of closer test sites).

lonelyplanet · 27/08/2020 15:49

A cynical person might question whether there is a deliberate shortage of tests, for those with symptoms, to give an illusion low case numbers.

Summersnearlyover · 27/08/2020 15:51

@lonelyplanet i couldn’t agree more and I’m not a cynical person.

Watwing · 27/08/2020 18:20

According to 119 it's because of people using the NHS tests for travel (against the rules) so they don't have enough tests.

ChaChaCha2012 · 27/08/2020 18:25

@Watwing Do you mean for people travelling to countries that require a negative test? If so, that makes no sense, as it would be a tiny number of people, and the respective countries require a certificate confirming the result, a text is not adequate.

119 should not be making such statements.

Flynn999 · 27/08/2020 18:25

Try rebooking now and you should find that spaces for tomorrow will have been released and you should find closer test centres available. If nothing now try after 8pm that’s when they release more slots

Augustbreeze · 27/08/2020 18:28

Symptoms such as runny nose and upset tummy can be symptoms, just not one of the mani symptoms defined by the NHS. Other countries and even Test and Trace have much longer symptom lists.

There has been a huge increase in demand for tests in Scotland because of schools returning. I wonder if this has somehow had a knock on effect, in England?

Up until now there seems to have been a lot of unused capacity. When our schools return, from the end of next week onwards,,presumably this will become even more of an issue.

ChaChaCha2012 · 27/08/2020 18:29

The Department of Health deny any problem exists. Hancock telling lies again?

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/coronavirus-home-test-kits-run-out-in-england-and-scotland

soundsystem · 27/08/2020 18:30

DD did a home year on Monday and still waiting on the results today...

Hotelhelp · 27/08/2020 18:32

Glasgow was an absolute joke this week so I think there must be

Ibake · 27/08/2020 18:32

I'm in NW and my son is working for the testing service. Stands in different car parks every day! Despite being sent to all the hotspots he is not very busy at all. Anyone here can get a test quite easily. Friend needed one the other day and was offered 9000 appts over a 3 day period. Wonder why there's such regional differences?

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