Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Struggling to get test for child? “Some test sites are for over-18s only“

26 replies

maddieR · 10/09/2020 22:36

Hi my 12 year old son has an awful sore throat and cough, hopefully just a result of being back at school, on public transport etc after six months of seeing very few people, and now everyone is sharing their germs again....but...trying to book a Covid test. First tried the website for a home test but none available, then filled out details for drive through test and received the alert- “Some test sites are for over-18s only” followed by - “no test sites available”. Filled out details for walk through test. Same thing. Called 119 and have been waiting an hour and thirteen minutes thus far. I know we keep reading about testing shortages on the news, but I hoped as we are in London, not in an area with high numbers, it wouldn’t be too tricky. Anyone else having the same difficulty?
Only two weeks ago I booked a covid test for myself - required to have a hospital procedure. Waited twenty minutes for the call handler (at the time thought that was long...little did I know) and was given a test the following day, 5 minute drive away, at whatever time I wanted basically.
What an alarming change.Shock

OP posts:
storminabuttercup · 10/09/2020 22:57

I think this is more that there are no tests available rather than the age of DC, I got the same message for hours this morning and finally booked a test at 10am when lots of slots were released

Divebar · 10/09/2020 22:58

Can you afford a private test ..... I think they’re about £120. Results take 2-3 days.

ginberry4 · 11/09/2020 02:36

I’m in exactly the same boat - trying to book a test for DD & getting the same message about u18’s & it says ‘no test sites found’. If I then click continue it says ‘problem - please enter test site’ yet there’s still none to choose from.

I’m here trying at 2.30am & it’s still saying the same. It’s ridiculous.

icklekid · 11/09/2020 02:42

Keep trying every hour is the advice schools are being asked to give to parents. I think they release more slots on the website during the day. If you really can’t get one speak to schools as they have 10 tests (ridiculous low number!) for this purpose

wherestheotherone · 11/09/2020 03:07

There has been a huge underestimation of the amount of testing needed for schools to go back.

There is a cold/cough virus that is spreading like wildfire through the school population and thankfully it seems most people are abiding by the guidance and getting tested, or trying to get tested.

Keep persevering, keep refreshing the page. Good luck op. There are hundreds of thousands of people in the same situation.

covetingthepreciousthings · 11/09/2020 03:18

I've just been trying no and getting the same message, no test available Sad

Does anyone know if you're applying for a home kit - when entering details do you put your name or DC who needs the test name? Or does it not matter whose name?

I don't think I get paid leave for isolating authorised from work until I have proof of a test Sad

ClinkyMonkey · 11/09/2020 03:29

Same thing happening here. DS(8) already had a test a fortnight ago due to a fever. He had only been back at school 2 days - it was negative. Now he needs another one! A cough and a fever this time. I'm fairly sure it's a cold as half his class have it, but clearly I won't know for sure until he has a test. DS gets a fever at the drop of a hat for some reason. No test sites available. And his older brother is stuck at home too now as we all have to self isolate. It's going to be a long winter!

covetingthepreciousthings · 11/09/2020 03:31

I think I might give DS preschool a ring in the morning to ask if they have any tests available on the off chance they were given some.

DH has access to testing via work being a keyholder but last time we needed access to one, it was only a drive thru site and we don't have a car Sad no home testing kits.

Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 11:17

Back being “held in the queue” trying to get a test- also trying online in case I can get a spot and hang up! Covetthepreciousthings- I have the same question!
“Does anyone know if you're applying for a home kit - when entering details do you put your name or DC who needs the test name? Or does it not matter whose name? “

wherestheotherone- “There has been a huge underestimation of the amount of testing needed for schools to go back.”
Ergh seems this government is always caught out by those pesky schoolsHmm

OP posts:
covetingthepreciousthings · 11/09/2020 11:21

Just wanted to update that I luckily managed to get a test via DS school, hope everyone else gets a test soon Thanks

DisappearingGirl · 11/09/2020 11:26

I honestly despair if the government didn't realise the massive increase in test capacity that would be needed once schools went back.

The majority of school kids are going to get at least one, and probably multiple, colds and viruses in the autumn term, many of which will involve coughs and slight fevers i.e. require a test. Any parent or teacher could have told the government this.

Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 11:31

Online managed to get as far as “84 slots available” in your drive through centre, which is Heathrow so not too bad a drive from where we are in west London but not the easy local centre I had two weeks ago. Then got to Book your time slot in the centre only to find every day until next Wednesday is fully booked! I didn’t bother looking after that as test needs to be done in first five days I think? It said try again in the evening for availability. Still in queue on 119 phone call. As one of you said above, it’s going to be a long winter! I have four kids, I wonder how many hours I will spend listening to this tune on 119 and how many hours of work I will lose! And I wonder how this infection can be contained when it’s so difficult to get a test Confused....

OP posts:
Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 11:32

Coveting that’s good to know! I might try that now.

OP posts:
Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 11:33

Disappearinggirl makes you wonder if we should all change our nicknames to “Despairinggirl” “despairingMaddieR”!!

OP posts:
Pamelaaaaa · 11/09/2020 11:37

When I ordered a home test for my dd at the start of the week I used her details to order it. I tried initially with my selecting 'ordering for someone you live with' and it allowed me to add her but then on the confirmation page said it was sending tests for me and her and i didn't need one. Went back and just used her details and it all went through fine. Had to order at 8am though as when I tried at 3am nothing was available.

Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 11:48

So just got off phone with 119, no tests available anywhere. Try online at 8pm and keep refreshing page was the advice. What a disaster.😡

OP posts:
Mytho · 11/09/2020 11:54

Im really sorry you are going through.
I had the same issue yesterday.
I think test slots are released at 10am and 8pm. And after 8am there are home testing kits released. So if you go in the website about 8.05am tomorrow you will be able to order a home test kit.
I've got one coming today.
The availability is low because schools have gone back and it wasnt anticipated this may lead to an increase in demand.

Toomanyapplesinthefruitbowl · 11/09/2020 11:56

Try just going to a test site without an appointment - I was sceptical but it worked for us yesterday

ClinkyMonkey · 11/09/2020 12:38

I managed to get one this morning at 10.00am but it's quite a few miles away. There's a mobile testing centre round the corner from us, but I wasn't prepared to wait for slots to appear, as the ones in the centre we're going to were disappearing at a rate of knots and I didn't fancy taking the risk. It's a difficult situation for people. We're all stuck at home self-isolating until DS2's result comes through. DS1 is annoyed at missing his new school when he has no symptoms, but them's the rules, as they say.

Really hope you get something soon @maddieR.

ClinkyMonkey · 11/09/2020 12:42

When I say 10.00am, I mean that's when the slots were released. We got a 3.00-3.30 time slot.

Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 19:03

Sigh, been trying all afternoon but no luck. Will keep on going for evening! School did not have tests to give out

OP posts:
elfycat · 11/09/2020 19:08

What was the point of sending kids back to school. DD2 woke up hot/pale/coughing today. It's a cold I'm 88% sure. But she needs a test to go back to school.

Her Y7 sister needs her to have a test. New school and she didn't know anyone. Began to bond with a girl in her class over cats yesterday.

I have to pick up a new printer to continue WFH (self employed).

Nothing for 2 weeks if we can;t get a test. I refreshed the page every 15-20 mins today.

Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 20:32

Elfycat I feel your pain! So here are my tips as hallelujah I just got a test for my son. They seem to release appointments at 8pm (and another poster says 10am). The operator on 119 said that you must have all the info uploaded before 8 then keep pressing the test site button. I kept going back a page and reloading postcode. First I was celebrating when offered a drive-through but then site crashed when it was loading the confirmation, again just pressed back, reloaded postcode and got a walk through tomorrow. Good luck, honestly this is a jokeHmm

OP posts:
Original poster
maddieR · 11/09/2020 20:33

Feeling sad for your daughter. I hope she manages to connect with the other child who would have been just as sad that she wasn’t there today

OP posts:
storminabuttercup · 12/09/2020 08:03

One thing I did which I'm not sure helped or not was clear the cache on the phone, then put in all details just before 10 and got a slot. Could be a total coincidence (I wasn't aware of the 10am thing)

Swipe left for the next trending thread