Why is the Gov.uk website saying no tests available when test centres are empty?

[Macramacious]

Ds woke up with a fever this morning. Tried to book a test online but it kept saying 'we are very busy' and to try again later. I then saw a post on the local fb page saying that you can just drive up to the test centre with no appointment and that they are not busy. Drove there with ds and got tested right away.

I've heard from a few people that they cannot book online even though testing is available. Why is this? Is there a problem with the booking system?

Press are saying it’s a backlog at the labs.

Friend who works in the field says it’s because the govt website isn’t fit fo purpose.

Who knows 🤷‍♀️

Same experience here yesterday, no results yet though.

Apparently the problem is with the labs processing the samples rather than the test centres. What a world-beatingly rubbish system!

they can't process them

So why don't they say that? Explain that it's a backlog in the labs rather than overcrowded test centres?

Yes, processing times are slow. We were tested Monday & were told normal turnaround is 24hrs but it's currently closer to 72hrs.

We are currently waiting for test results. Home test posted yesterday. My daughter developed symptoms so we're all at home, again. She's fine now. It took me 3 days to get a test as the closest testing center was an hour and a half drive and wouldn't make it in time for appointment. There is a test center round the corner, always empty when I've driven past (I've also had a past test there) but when I rang 119 I was told no appointments. The system isn't working. Loads of kids now off school again because they haven't been near other kids for 6 months and now all have colds but have to be tested but no way of testing them all. It's a nightmare

There was a mobile testing site at our leisure centre this week. Empty both times I drove past - they packed up at 3.45pm.

I have just tried to do the same, me and ds have coughs, can't book a test drove there on the off chance and was told no way, despite being a regional teat center and looked to be fully staffed with loads of staff and space, they have only 50 tests available today which are all booked. Utter madness!

We have an incompetent government. World beatingly incompetent.

What area are you in please?

I think in some places too it is an issue with the materials and or kit needed as well as labs. I had a test back in June which was luckily negative. They give you a long swab in a sealed packet plus various other bits to put it in. I think I read our local hospital didn't have a certain bit of kit.

We have an incompetent government. World beatingly incompetent.
This times a bazzilion.

@unmarkedbythat

We have an incompetent government. World beatingly incompetent.

Also this ⬆️

We have been trying to get an appointment since 5pm last night. Live near London and the only available option at that point was Swansea. After that, it was the we are too busy message. Shambles.

I think backlog of processing tests (the paranoid streak in me thinks it"s so we dont know how high the numbers are climbing again...).

Hope DS is feeling better soon and you get a negative result.

The labs are at capacity. The workers in the labs are burning out from unrealistic shift patterns too. Exh quit

I think the reason they aren't currently sending people to the testing centres is that the backlog is affecting processing times.

I may be wrong, but doesn't the test need to be processed within a certain timeframe after the swab is taken?

If that's the case, a drive in centre may agree to swab you if you turn up, but it's unlikely the swab will be processed in time for a valid result.

It’s on PMs questions now about testing, Boris is trying to brush it off and Sir Keir is like a dog with a bone about it and quite right too

We couldn't get booked in anywhere yesterday so just drove to the nearest mobile site on the off chance. They asked if we'd booked, I said no and they said 'no problem, you'll just have to call and register your test barcode when you get home'.
Easy as pie.