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?

Tried last night got offered Brighton (live in North London). Tried again this morning and got Enfield. The entire trip. Inc the test was just over an hour. I do think given I live in a London Borough with one of the highest levels there should be somewhere nearer

Yes, my son and husband had one last Monday as my son had symptoms. (They did husband as he was in the car with him)

The test centre was a drive through three miles from our home. They were in and out at 1.30pm and we had the test results the following morning at 8am although they said it would be 48 hours. Negative, thankfully.

I wonder what's going on- I just tried to book a to check availability and it's giving me Cardiff and the nearest option. I live in London! No walk through availability.

@roses2

I wonder what's going on- I just tried to book a to check availability and it's giving me Cardiff and the nearest option. I live in London! No walk through availability.

Exactly. It's mad. I opted for postal tests - they came from Glasgow and I live in London, surely they can organise stocks of tests to be held throughout the country to make that process quicker?

On another note I've just seen that 3000 people tested positive in one day so numbers are definitely rising again. Maybe this is impacting availability?

*2000 not 3000

I had the same. They wanted me to drive from North Essex to Ramsgate In Kent, which is 115 miles. I had to do a postal one which was a massive pain over the bank holiday, with DD needing to return to school.

@OutingMyself

I had the same. They wanted me to drive from North Essex to Ramsgate In Kent, which is 115 miles. I had to do a postal one which was a massive pain over the bank holiday, with DD needing to return to school.

Indeed. That's the other ridiculous issue. You're told to test within 5 days of symptoms appearing but over a bank holiday weekend you can't do the test on the Monday, Sunday or after midday on the Saturday and then you have to allow for the time it takes for the test kit to be delivered to you. In my case it took over 30 hours so you're rapidly running out of time at that point. My employer is also not happy that I can't even send the test until tomorrow morning and then have to wait for the results. It's such a mess.

Yesterday I drove 45 miles for a test because I really needed it back today if at all possible. I've got a bad head cold so unsurprisingly can't really taste anything. 99.9% sure it's not COVID but not comfortable going to work without a test result. 3 hour round trip to get the earliest slot and guess what - its 5.30 and no results yet.

Anyone who's had a test, do you know what the pm cut-off time is for getting results?

OP - just interested that you said you are having a test because you’re an essential worker. Are essential workers entitled to a test even if they don’t have any symptoms?

@roses2 try again in a few hours. Slots open up at closed ones. We did ours in lea Valley today so that's much closer to you

@Pud2

OP - just interested that you said you are having a test because you’re an essential worker. Are essential workers entitled to a test even if they don’t have any symptoms?

I’m not the OP, but yes they are. I’m an essential worker (teacher) and we’ve been told to all get tested in the next two weeks. Regardless of symptoms. What a waste of time, money and effort, and a great way to make the whole testing shitshow worse.

I’m a teacher too but I haven’t seen it said anywhere that essential workers can get tests. In fact, we had a letter from PHE last week reminding everyone to only get tests if they are symptomatic.

@posrapesto I’m surprised your school are allowed to do that, ie, make you all have a test??

This is what the guidance says, ie, essential workers can be tested if they are symptomatic or someone in their household.

Employer referral for essential workers
Employers can refer essential workers for testing if they are self-isolating because either they or member(s) of their household have coronavirus symptoms.

Capacity is most definitely an issue. People from west of Scotland being directed to Belfast last week as the website was calculating it on an "as the crow flies" basis.

But 99% of tests are negative - a lot of people are pitching up and booking tests for snotty noses, or colds, or other symptoms which aren't covid. Sore throats and snotty noses galore at our school at the moment, and parents have been booking unnecessary tests by the dozen.

It's due to a lack of LAB capacity for processing the tests NOT capacity at the covid test sites. They are trying to put people off by limiting local slots except in high risk areas.

Just google your local test centre and turn up on spec- most sites are pretty quiet and they will be happy to register you once you arrive.

There is one a mile away from me. I have used it and it was v efficient. If I need one again and can’t get booked in I will just go again and ask nicely.

It’s bonkers though that it’s much more difficult if you don’t have a car. I know lots of non-drivers that would be able to access this drive through one very easily- ....yet they can’t. If you want to walk in the closest one is 20 miles (despite being in a big city). As if you’d walk or take public transport 20 miles! Presumably asking for a lift is not recommended either.

@SockYarn
Whereas I get your point I don’t think parents are booking tests “unnecessarily” when they have been told their coughing/feverish child can’t come in to school unless they can prove a negative test. What else do you suggest?

@torn2020
It’s Sunday so may be different but I know of several people who had results texted at 10/11pm. Midnight in one case. And a few at 6am. So don’t lose hope yet.

I don’t know anyone who has taken a test at all - apart from a doctor friend - (was positive). I do know some who had the virus but they were hospitalised with it and tested there.

They seriously need to fix this before flu season. We can't have kids home for two weeks when they have their usual fever just because they can't book a test!

@Frazzled2207 thank you, that's helpful. Will keep my fingers crossed.

As predicted, the DCs have picked something up at school. They're very prone to coughs and colds so fully expected this after 6 months away from the classroom, but hoped we might have managed more than 2 days back before they ended up with coughs and temperatures . Anyway, nearest available test sites are in Scotland - we're in South Devon. WTAF