Impossible to get a test

[mumum1]

Can't believe how difficult it is to get a test.

DD6 ended up with a bit of a cold over the weekend and a fever yesterday morning. I got a fever too and just a general feeling of being tired.

Have been trying since yesterday morning to get a test but no test sites available.

We're all self isolating now which means I'm off work, DD9 is off school too (she's gutted) as well as DD6

I'm pretty sure we've just got colds but DDs school and my work won't let me back until I have a negative test although we both feel ok now.

I would have thought that the powers that be would have thought that maybe with the return to school to make sure we had enough testing capacity!

Has anyone managed to book a test today? How have you managed it? Any times of day I should be trying?

[Oldraver]

And yes...three days off work with no pay. How long before people try to hide any symptoms and carry on to work

[Oldraver]

Took OH two hours to get an appointment same day and like others clicked confirm. Got to test centre and would test as he didnt have to QR code. Test centre empty

Came home and was trying for 7 hours, finally got an appointment 40 odd miles away, got QR this time. Arrived at test centre only to be told he should be at another one. Yet again both centres empty

[Bupkis]

@Normandy144

Hello I have tried I think successfully to book a test this evening for tomorrow morning. However I am now worried that I didn't actually book it as I have nothing in the way of confirmation email and then final screen I think just said to click confirm which I duly did. It then took me back to the beginning screen again, with no message to say it was confirmed etc. Is this normal do you know? Many thanks.

The same has just happened to us.
Today is the last day we can test
Clicked confirm for a slot at 4pm.
Just went back to first page
Honestly losing my shit here.

[Bupkis]

@chocolateisavegetable

Ah, that makes perfect sense.

(Obviously it doesn't, but frankly after spending 3 days ticking a box saying I'm not a robot, and trying to work out what a crosswalk looks like, I have lost all sense of reason!)

[chocolateisavegetable]

@bupkis we called the hotline about Esher - they call it "phantom test centres" - which means that the site isn't fully set up yet, so the appointments don't really exist. It's a shit show.

[Bupkis]

Just got 18 slots at Esher (hour and half drive away) clicked on it....no available slots.

Fuckedyshiteshambles

[OoooYesThanks]

I got a test today. After two days of constantly trying. Arrived and for the 30mins we were there not a single other person turned up. There were about 8 staff twiddling their thumbs.

What bollocks!

[Lumene]

I finally managed to get a postal test late today. I just sat there repeatedly filling out the form for hours until I got one.

[Bupkis]

No....can’t get anything apart from the ‘no test sites’ message.
Started trying early morning on Monday morning.

[DominaShantotto]

@bathsh3ba

Is anyone else finding the slots coming up are all for over-18s? Been trying since 7am to get a slot for my 11yo....

Not really - I was after a slot for my 8 year old who's woken up with a cough this morning - I was getting the "no centres" page with a line that not all sites will test under 18s but when I finally got some slots to load it went through fine - in and out of Leicester in under 10 minutes.

[bathsh3ba]

Is anyone else finding the slots coming up are all for over-18s? Been trying since 7am to get a slot for my 11yo....

[covetingthepreciousthings]

I managed to get one about an hour ago, had been trying all day yesterday! Could only get a home test so will have to do, though worried about turnaround time, it will probably be the time isolation is due to be up anyway

[MayFayre]

Still haven’t managed to get one. Been trying since yesterday afternoon.

[SansaClegane]

Glad you finally got through bellini!

As for us, DS and I had our test yesterday 3pm. Were advised we would get results "within 24 hours" but somehow I'm not hopeful

Now shitting myself that we get a "result unclear" message like the PP on here!

[bellinisurge]

Halle-fucking-lujah. Got a walk in test booked. Drive in tests were in Wales.

[Decisivelyindecisive]

Managed to book for this afternoon and its pulled through 3 tests.. but because I'm an idiot one is in my name and and it's actually DH who needs it ( and 2 dc). Can we switch the name at the centre or is it another 36hrs of refreshing to rebook

[Torres10]

Well my husband is waiting at the testing centre with my son..apparently it doesn't open until 10.30..good to see they are cramming those appointments in!

[Inkpaperstars]

I haven't been following the news as closely as I should the last few weeks. Is there any explanation of why the testing capacity is so poor? It is hard as a lay person to see how or why they have not got the system ramped up yet.

[Misty9]

Still nothing on the gov.uk website - but it appears the one and only perk of working for the NHS is getting tests and I've got one booked this morning. Definitely check with your employer if you or your partner work for the NHS! The whole thing is a shambles and will only get worse as winter goes on

[bellinisurge]

Tried again this morning. Nothing.
My DD's school which has a least one confirmed case isn't on the list published by Tbe Manchester Evening News. So god, knows how many schools there are in the area with the same problem.

[Laufeythejust]

It’s a bit late now but local councillor put on our Facebook group tonight that if we wanted appointments to start trying at 1745 so maybe that’s a time it refreshes? Or maybe that’s just for our area- we have pop up centres at the minute because our area is probably one of the next to go into lockdown.

[Bupkis]

Have tried over and over again, since Monday morning, including the middle of the night.

Ds is really poorly, and obviously wouldn't be able to go to school anyway...but dh can't work and the older dds are missing school, and worrying about getting behind.

Ds has been shielding and is medically vulnerable, he will be I'll on and off throughout Winter, this happens every year...we can't keep doing this without tests, so we are going to have to think about keeping him off school altogether.

Fucking chaos

[Torvean32]

@Keeping2ChevronsApart.

Hi.
You shouldn't have to a test for a short temperature. Jason Leitch ( public health Scotland) wrote about this If i find the link I'll post it, or try googling him.

[Misty9]

What a bloody shitshow this is! Dd spiked a fever - it's a cold - and has a productive, not dry, cough. But I work in a hospital so can't take the risk and no test site is all that comes up when I try to book. Just started new job so not eligible for sick pay probably either. Is this going to be all effing winter?!

[MayFayre]

I’ve been trying since 4pm. Now going to give up until tomorrow. So much time wasted.