Has any one tried to book a test lately? Website wants me to drive 100 miles for a test?

[Theyweretheworstoftimes]

Has anyone tried to get a Covid 19 test?

Gov website is asking me to drive 100 miles for a test.

I know there is a testing facility 9 miles away.

Reason for test is essential worker.

Is this mad? Or AIBU?

[quote StatisticalSense]@JS87
It's not realistic to obtain millions of swab kits to sit around in people's homes.
One of the biggest mistakes in the testing process was the offer of home test kits with no reason necessary as this fundamentally increases the level of resources needed to run the system. It'll always be logistically easier to get those who can to visit a central site and realistically asking people with access to vehicles to travel up to 50 or so miles one way, at a time they should be otherwise self isolating (and therefore not exactly having to fit a test in between a packed social calendar) will significantly boost the levels of capacity.[/quote]
Why isn't it realistic? It's just a swab and a tube. Unfortunately there are also lots of people who think it isn't realistic for them to sit at home for 5 days waiting for a home test to arrive, get sent back and results sent for what they are "sure" is a cold. People will just not bother testing.
I also think a 100 mile round trip is quite a long way to drive for a test when you may potentially feel like rubbish. Logistically, amazon visit our house most days so purchasing a few on there to be delivered seems logistically much simpler.

That does rather assume that you're symptoms are mild enough to drive safely, or that you have someone with whom you already share germs who is asymptomatic and willing to drive you.

And that in the 100 mile round trip, the person who should be isolating is not going to need the loo

This is a recognised issue now and Matt Hancock has pledged to limit the distance you have to travel to 75 miles.

Which is still completely absurd!

I'm in London. Booked home test Wednesday evening. It arrived Thursday evening and I did it this morning. We have no car so I wasn't presented with my nearest drive in session so I don't know how far they would have asked me to go, but the home test was delivered very quickly.

How do you get a test if you don't use the internet or have a mobile phone, elderly DF has neither and lives alone, he has no car either, is there another way for vulnerable people like this to get one or are they just forgotten about in this day and age.

I don’t think it is unreasonable for an elderly person’s support network/family to book a test or them. There will be some that slip through the net however.

I have heard that the labs are at full capacity and resources are being focussed on hot spots, which is distorting the availability of tests in other areas.

I had to get a home test on Monday as don’t drive. It didn’t arrive until yesterday so I did it and posted it back. Assuming I don’t get the results until tomorrow at the earliest that is nearly a week.

It was very different the last time - got test the next day and results in less than 48 hours for home test ( both times I was asked to test by the Zoe app).

@RedRiverShore Well the system has been designed by the same people who helpfully told us all to use our second bathrooms, and don't have to worry about minor life details like, ooh, childcare or transport, so what do you expect 🤷‍♀️

Friday I was offered tests 87 miles away from me.
I tried in the morning on Saturday and was offered the same. No home test option. Called up 119 to ask if it was a capacity issue or a glitch. The lady said capacity but she did say definitely try again a few times a day. Apparently they release the slots and home kits multiple times a day to spread out the availability but don't say when to make it fairer or something I imagine. Don't give up.

I tired an hour later and managed get a drive through test slot for next day 9 miles away. I was also given option for a home kit.

To add, the test was fine 2:30pm Saturday and results received approximately Sunday 10:30

They would be better off having testers and a stack of kits in a load of vehicles and having them drive round taking doorstep swabs.

Awful, imagine driving 75 miles when you feel unwell.

It's bit of a shambles isn't it.

I'm not going to believe them when they say Brexit will go smoothly...

I’m slightly concerned about this Zoe app, from what I’ve heard it’s asking people to get a test based on spurious reasons (symptoms not associated with covid, no symptoms at all). Surely this shouldn't be happening if there is generally a shortage of tests? You don’t want people getting tested because their eyes are sore, and others with temps and coughs being rejected because the test quota has run out.

I'm trying to get a test booked for my toddler who got sent home from nursery with a fever.

The only slots it was coming up with were ones where even if I jumped in the car straight away, we'd be late arriving once you account for travel time. On the page it said you must be on time, etc no latecomers accepted, but are they actually a little more lenient in reality?

Looks like my experience isn't unusual then which is pretty worrying.

Was hoping you would all tell me it was a glitch or I was being a daft bat!

Same here

First day literally nothing, then travel 60 miles for a test - which is about an hour and a half drive. Theres one a mile away and one 15 odd miles away, probably about 10 test centres actually closer!

No home tests available at all, not sure how Im expected to travel a 3hr round trip when Im ill?

Managed to get one today more local, pretty certain I dont have covid and have a normal cough/cold, but starting a new job next tuesday and really dont want to have to call in sick first week! Was shitting myself when I couldnt get a test

I can really see this being a problem as we get into winter, am going to need testing weekly with the amount of coughs I normally get!

I booked an online test, there were loads available earlier this week. Drive in slot a couple of miles away, same day (London). When I got there, they asked if I had booked, so it looked like you might just be able to pitch up without a booking. They also had walk ups.

Don't drive for miles- just turn up at your nearest centre and let them register you when you arrive.

If you can't get a slot via online booking, google where your nearest Covid test centre is, turn up and say you weren't able to register.
They will generally have no problem registering you on site and you can get tested there and then.

As reported in the media, the issue is not that the sites are too busy, they are not (apart from a few hotspots).

I strongly suspect that the capacity at some test centres in low risk areas has been artificially reduced by Dept of Health due to limited lab capacity to process the tests. High risk areas are being given priority for lab capacity.

Instead of publicly admitting this, I'm guessing that the Dept of Health is trying very hard to put people off going for a test if they live in a low risk area by making it appear there are no slots available locally because it's too busy (it probably isn't!).

Given they have just had a big national ad campaign about getting tested, it doesn't seem the best planning.....

But only turn up if you actually have symptoms...

Tests definitely should be prioritised for the symptomatic, not for the mildly anxious!

I've just managed to book one locally for tomorrow morning, so looks like they've released some new slots

They are truly messing up the logistics.

Tried to book a test last night. Some availability at Gatwick...no home tests left. Gatwick not feasible as opposite side of London and the child is Autistic, won't be able to test in a car etc.

Got home tests sorted this morning. They are coming from Glasgow... won't be here until tomorrow night.

Wont be able to send it back until Monday. (Which will be 5 days into symptoms - he will almost certainly be fine) then another 2/4 day wait for results.

In the meantime have to stay at home, both children possibly to miss first week at school.

Rinse and repeat over the next few months...

World beating testing system my a*

And this is before the cold / flu season and rise in cases because of uni and school returns.

Omnishambles

Keep trying throughout the day. First thing it was 50 miles away and only a couple of slots that I wouldn’t have had time to get to. I tried again an hour later and got one 15 miles away. It says on the website they release new slots at 8pm.

They are building a walkthrough one in my town.

I had a test 2 weeks ago and had loads of slots to choose from so I think I must have been lucky. I certainly wouldn't have bothered going if I had to go to a centre 100 miles away!

London isn’t great. Trying to book a test as son has a persistent cough, been offered Isle of Wight as closest, only 70miles but would need to get a return trip on the car ferry to get there and back!! No postal tests available. Going to try again in the morning. I had a test about 2 weeks ago due to high temperature and was offered Birmingham airport (95 miles) but got the home test. Arrived next day and got the results within 48hrs.