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?

[gamerchick]

What i want to know is, are the schools going to fine as usual if no test can get done?

[YouJustDoYou]

All of you who can’t get tests, are you complaining to your MPs too?

Yes, emailed mine this morning. I told him it's not like I expect a reply, but the Government needs to know that those of us being forced to quarantine with zero pay can't pay the bills in the meantime, not everyone is work from home, especially those of us who are deemed key workers- no school work assigned, can't leave the house, all children in the house now can't go to school just because of one who had a slightly elevated temperature and we're trapped because there's literally no way out.

[Flatwhite32]

@gamerchick Absolutely not (well mine isn't anyway!). If a school fines for this I'd be complaining about it to the local authority (and I'm a teacher!).

[gamerchick]

Thankyou, been playing on my mind a bit

[Twin176]

Just a thought, In the same boat, can’t get a test for my daughter for love nor money, I also work in school so I can’t return till she has a negative result, but the head told me schools have been allocated so many testing kits and was willing to provide one, So rather than using one from the school where I work I rang up daughters school who are now going to provide one, could be worth a try asking the school or nursery to see if they can help

[MummyPop00]

Just proves once more that letting it run through the population was the most realistic option all along. This can’t go on, it’s like Chinese f**king water torture.

Like most here, can’t get a test. School also quite possibly lied to us stating my DD had both a cough and temperature via email. She didn’t have her temperature taken so she says.

Every time someone has a sniffle we have to stop everything again for two weeks? It’s bolloxs- let Covid run it’s natural course and get it all over with sooner rather than later.

[AlandAnna]

60 slots in Portsmouth just popped up

[Rockhopper81]

Just got a test on the south coast - were slots in Portsmouth and Bristol Airport too.

[Jrobhatch29]

@SansaClegane

It's such a shit show isn't it.
I've been on it again since 6.45 am, really hoping for the 10am slots.

I think the most frustrating thing is getting through to picking a centre and time slot, putting car reg in, and then being kicked off the site.
Why is the website so shit? I think these slots are then being 'held' but you can't confirm it so people are missing out either way.

Good luck to everyone who's trying today.

This just happened to me for Newcastle. Slots came up, put my details in then kicked me off. Went back on and all gone now. Could cry

[Rockhopper81]

Just to add - I needed to refresh several times to get the slots to appear, then refresh on the time selection page for those to come up. It's a seriously 'buggy' system, and just generally poorly designed I think!

[Rockhopper81]

@Jrobhatch29 - trying pressing 'back' rather than entering details again, I did that and everything was saved, including vehicle registration. I'm sure that's the only reason I got a booked slot.

[PrincesseDeLamballe]

Just interested to hear if those of you trying to get tested have just the three symptoms on the NHS website or things like sore throats and runny noses?

I ask as DDs boyfriend has both these two symptoms but none of what we've been told are the 'classic' COVID-19 ones. When he contacted college yesterday to advise of his absence as he feels tough, he was told to get a test and as a result, his mum, dad and sibling are all having to self isolate too.

[AlandAnna]

Child with a cough here. You are only eligible for a test if you have continuous cough, fever or loss of smell or taste

[Cookerhood]

DS's school where he works said to get a test if he developed a fever, which he did. As we can't get one his school have now agreed to give us one of their precious 10 kits. Goodness knows how long it will take for the results to come back

[SansaClegane]

HALLELUJAH!
Just got a test slot at around 9.30am, and for Milton Keynes so not too far from us!
Honestly just so relieved. Roll on 3pm.
Now hoping it all goes well and we will get the results swiftly, can't wait to get out of the house again! Fever is down for everyone so fingers crossed it was some other virus.

[SerenaT28]

I JUST GOT ONE! In Norfolk. After 3 days of no tests showing!

[cjpark]

it's an absolute shambles. My husband and I are doctors. Two kids. One developed a snotty nose on Friday clearly a mild cold. Went to school yesterday and was sent home at 10am. We are now all at home isolating. No tests available anywhere.I have been on the website over 100 times, written to MP, rung the CCG - nothing. Unless we get a test by Wednesday, we will be out of surgery for 2 weeks.

[Jrobhatch29]

I've managed to get one too for 1.30 phew!

[Eccle80]

4 year old started coughing late last night. Managed to get a test booked around 9.40 after a lot of refreshing for several hours, for this afternoon and 18 miles away, so not too bad (though a bit annoying having to travel when I know the nearest one is empty!)

Three sites came up in the Birmingham area

[bellinisurge]

In Greater Manchester. A hot spot. Been trying for a family member since about 6 am. Nothing.

[Batchcooking]

I got all the way through to book, pressed "confirm" and then it just took me back to the beginning? Received no email confirmation.

Does this mean it didn't book? I've been on hold to 119 for half an hour.

[SansaClegane]

Batchcooking that's a no, unfortunately. It happened to me several times over. Unless you get the "appointment confirmed" screen, it's not booked!
Oh and don't waste your time with 119 - they literally just go on the same website as you do at home, there is no other system! The poor lady I spoke to yesterday explained that it's only a service for those who don't have Internet and can't go on the website from home

[Eccle80]

@Batchcooking

I got all the way through to book, pressed "confirm" and then it just took me back to the beginning? Received no email confirmation.

Does this mean it didn't book? I've been on hold to 119 for half an hour.

Unfortunately that means it didn’t work, you need a confirmation page and QR code. It happened to me first time I tried

[sugarplumfairy2010]

I spent 2 days of constant refreshing to get an appointment. My son cried his eyes out when I did the test. Just got the results back. Unclear! Now over the 5 day test time so we all have to isolate for 2 weeks. Husbands self employed so won't get paid I could cry.

[Keepgoing88]

We managed to get a home test... i really don’t know how! I wonder if they release them throughout the day. I had been trying since 8 yesterday and kept getting ‘too busy’ and couldn’t get through on the phone then when I did randomly see home test available on the selection screen it worked. Test is coming today, what I think seems to be the issue more with these is that the results take an age. Out of interest I looked later with my postcode for drive or walk ins and a few tiles one did come up but there were literally no appointments on any days within the next week so what’s the point! My friend from school can’t get an appointment for her child at all