ONS study invite? Anyone else doing this?

[Mum2threejs]

I received a letter addressed ‘the resident of’ it’s from the ons and university of oxford asking if I want to be a part of there study. I’ve read threads about these on mumsnet before and always thought it would be quite interesting quick and easy. But this says to ring them to register on to the study, wait for a phone call to book home appointment within the next 7 days. You’ll then be assigned a case worker then they visit once a week for up to 30 mins per person who participates after the first 5 weeks this then does reduce to once a month. From other threads other home surveys in to Coronavirus is a questionnaire and a home test kit (like I said quick n easy) working and with 1 child in school and 2 inseperate fe colleges getting appointments to be appropriately timed for us seems impossible so I won’t be ‘ringing to register’. Would be interested to hear from anyone who is though. Is it as time consuming as it sounds?

My parents were selected and it’s v well run they say. I think they get £50 in vouchers for each visit. Obviously they’re retired so more flexible time wise but seems easy, v quick visits apparently.

Yes as a family we are doing it. Even the kids. We give them some pocket money and are keeping the vouchers for things like their school shoes/clothes. It’s £50 for first visit then £25 after that.

We had the same invite today and have registered to participate.

No, got the invite but recycled it. I don't want unnecessary COVID tests and blood tests even for £25 a visit. The whole thing sounded quite weird, I hope they get really good results because its going to cost them a huge amount.

Is it only for swab testing or blood tests as well? I wouldn't mind the swabs if I was paid for it but you couldn't pay me enough to have an unnecessary blood test

Swabs. If you test positive they will ask for blood tests after but you don’t have to.

We are in the initial survey.
It was an administrative cockup at the beginning (unsurprisingly given the speed it was introduced) but after the first few weeks it's been very smooth.
3 of us, myself and 2 teens. Takes max 15 mins total now.
We had our monthly visit on Wed but dc2 is back at school now so only dc1 (who isn't yet back at college) & I.
I've been giving the teens cash and spending the vouchers myself.

Does the new wave of participants get vouchers?

Yes vouchers.

Why are they spending so much money and resources testing people that don't need tests when there aren't the testing facilities for people that are symptomatic?

Yes I'm doing it. And as others have said its way less of a faff than it sounds. First visit was lengthy but subsequent ones were quick and easy.

We're doing it. Me & DH who are both WFH and DC (18 & 20) both just about to move to uni. First appointment was quite long but subsequent very quick and easy. The most difficult aspect is finding a time we're all in and not on work calls, but that's not been a huge problem. Vouchers are great as you can spend them pretty much anywhere. DC will be dropping out after next week to go to uni but that's not a problem, you can stop at any time. Very little faff for something that is doing a bit to help overall. I was just telling friends about it this evening and they were jealous they hadn't got the letter and thus easy money!

Question for anyone who is doing this: how long did it take for someone to ring you to make the first appointment? I registered in Friday and was told someone would call in the next 2 weeks. I did have to give my email address but heard nothing since.

I have the same Boxachocs.... Registered about 10 days ago but heard nothing yet

@Boxachocs it took 5 weeks from registration for us to get our first call about a swab.

Did you get any kind of confirmation email in the meantime?

I haven't had our first vouchers yet.

I want a new mattress. Can I spend them at John Lewis? Or alternatively the supermarket so I can put the shopping budget towards the mattress?

@Boxachocs nope. I'd given up. And then I got a casual text at 9 on a Wednesday night asking if they could come the next day.

@Stringervest John Lewis was on the list when I looked up the vouchers.

Oh good, thanks!

We're also doing it - have rung up to say we want to participate and now waiting to be contacted to make an appointment to have the first swabs. DH and I signed up but said we didn't want DS (2) to participate.

I did look at the information and wonder how representative a sample they're really getting - I know you have to give people a lot of information so they can give informed consent to participate in a study, but the letter and the booklet would be off-putting to a lot of people. I was particularly surprised on how little emphasis they put on the vouchers, which might have some more mass appeal... I just tried to imagine our old neighbours, who were largely lived lives that were a bit chaotic and didn't follow covid guidance at any point as far as I could see, reading the letter and felt that they'd almost certainly have thrown it away - but surely that massively biases their sample? If ONS doesn't mean anything to you then I think you're a lot less likely to want to do it.

We're doing it but I'm not terribly confident about the administration behind the scenes. The caseworker came the first week (phoned up beforehand to make an appointment) and all four of us signed up, filled in all the forms, and got swabbed - only 3 got vouchers. She came the next week (phoned up beforehand to make an appointment), again swabbed all four of us - still only 3 got vouchers although we asked her to check what happened to the 4th. The week after (this week), nobody phoned and we haven't had our appointment at all.

Also, I found on on another thread that you don't get told if your test is negative, only if it is positive.

We signed up for this. Got messaged by a caseworker to come and do our initial appointment a few days later. We are supposed to be being tested weekly but it’s nearly 2 weeks since we’re seen and no sign of a second appointment. I called IQVIA (which took days to get through) and the girl I spoke to said she would flag it and someone would be in touch but nothing yet. I also mentioned that dh had received his vouchers but I’d not had mine or the ones for dc yet. Apparently it can take up to 20 days although I find it very odd that they wouldn’t all come at the same time....

So all in all we were pleased to be able to get involved and do something useful (plus get tested regularly!) but the organisation seems to leave a lot to be desired.

Well, I got a phone call day and he was here half an hour later!!! All 4 of us done!

I got an invitation from Imperial College London to take part in a COVID survey including testing but there is no mention of vouchers or blood tests.

Maybe the Oxford Survey is asking for blood from positive patients for the vaccine research???

Has everyone received the vouchers, 6 of us took part in our household but we've only received one voucher of £50.