Anyone managed to book a test today? Or tips for when to try?

[BighouseLittlemouse]

My eldest has a temperature and cold symptoms. Because of the temperature been trying to book a test all day with no success. Does anyone have any tips for best time to try?

I am a single parent and have another child who is obviously having to stay off school. Really need to get access to a test.

I also have a child with a temperature and cold . Not allowed back at school until she has a test. I managed to get a postal test earlier but no drive/walk throughs were available.

We found first thing in the morning around 8am to be when local same day appointments became available. When we tried the evening before it was sending us 100s of miles away or saying nothing available.

Thanks both

No home tests available either. Will keep trying this evening and tomorrow.

It’s madness if this is what it will be like. People just won’t bother!

We managed to get two bookings at about 8.30, for 2 pm, but 40 miles away from each other and from us. The website is utterly confusing though and my husband booked it in his name instead of my son's, so I'm not sure the school will accept it now.

I booked mine around half ten last night.

I just tried to book a test for my daughter who has a temp- none available. Now what?

I just turned up. My friend works at a test centre and told me to do this, it worked a treat. The centres are quite quiet on the whole, it’s the booking system that’s fooked.

I don't want to risk that though- my nearest one is a 40 min drive away

Having the same problem. My DH has no symptoms but was in contact with someone 8 days ago who tested positive. Advised to test. Turned up at local centre, turned away as not deemed urgent as no symptoms. Next one is 100 miles. So the only option now is for both DC to miss school and both me and DH (key workers) to stay off work

This is a problem I had this morning. I live in the Midlands and the closest one available to me was Aberdeen. I literally spent an hour constantly refreshing the page on the website and fell lucky. There were no walk in apt's and no home tests available either. We got to the centre, we were there around 15 mins and there were 10 staff and no one but us was being tested.

I checked this morning at 8, loads of appointments locally but not in the next town, decided not to go, I’m sure it’s a cold felt I was wasting time. Decided actually need to be responsible and check (I have lost taste/smell and have high temp). Went back on at 8:30, no appointments available, refreshed at about 9:30, 210 appointments in the next town which wasn’t an option before. Got the test done at 1 today. Was pretty busy, person who did my test advised they’ve had a lot more people come through with probable colds.

There were lots available in my area (Bedfordshire) yesterday and this morning. It must vary, but I agree driving by one would definitely be worth a shot.

I'm not sure whether this works but someone told me today that on the gov.uk site they were directed to a test centre 40 miles away. They tried the NHS site instead and got a test 15 miles away.

We had a week of testing of various family members so tried to get tests at various times of day. Between 8and 9 am seemed to be when some got released and then 6-7pm. This is just one experience, but the main site in our city gave results between 6-24hrs, but the mobile site run by the army took 4 days

I have. Wolves area and absolute nightmare. Took me til 3pm of checking every 30 minutes.. Ended up with a home kit. Kept saying to come back later as nothing was available.

My daughter and I had/have temperatures saturday evening, through sunday.
I was able to book a drive through at 2pm for 530pm. Had results via email and text at 3pm this afternoon. We used the gatwick drive in centre.

The nearest drive through test centre they gave me was 40 miles away. I managed to then order a home test around 8am.

I’ve been checking every 30 minutes and still nothing. I rang 119 and she said it was the busiest they’ve ever been and sadly no tests available just keep trying.

I’m also meant to be working! I don’t have time to sit and try and book a test for a whole day.

I phoned yesterday and was told not sure if any tests left but more should be available at 8pm. But then there was 2 available so drove for appointment

In Wales

@MaggieTheFrog
Unless in Scotland where the rules are different for political (rather than scientific) reasons and the testing system is different and controlled by the scottish government there is no reasons for your children to be off school if nobody in their household has symptoms and they haven't been in direct contact with someone who tested positive. Whoever advised your husband was wrong to tell him to get a test if he has no symptoms as that does not qualify for a test under English rules.

Just past 8am. Took me three days to get a local test centre. Agree it's complicated to book for a child.

I’ve been trying and can’t get one for my son who’s started with a bad cough.
I think what’s annoying me most is I have to fill in all his details every time I try to get a test!.. why don’t they have the bloody postcode thing first so at least you can see if there’s any available before entering everything.

I’ve just had some come up for tomorrow.

@StatisticalSense I agree I can't understand the logic at all. It's very frustrating that the DC are missing both school and nursery. I'm not sure how this system is going to work through the autumn and winter.