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

Impossible to get a test

128 replies

mumum1 · 14/09/2020 11:50

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?

OP posts:
Decisivelyindecisive · 15/09/2020 10:53

Endlessly hitting refresh here Sad 2 poorly kids, 2 just off isolating. One with a horrendous cold that is now including a persistent cough and one with mild temp, sore throat and a rash. Need a test before the others can return to school

ShivD · 15/09/2020 10:55

Someone local was told to get a QR code for a tests ANYWHERE and then bring that to your local centre and they will test you. Worked for them on Friday Smile

Batchcooking · 15/09/2020 11:24

In case it helps anyone else, I spoke to 119. They said the QR code takes up to 4 hours to come through...by which time you could have missed your appointment.

How insane is that?!

Flube · 15/09/2020 11:26

@ShivD

Someone local was told to get a QR code for a tests ANYWHERE and then bring that to your local centre and they will test you. Worked for them on Friday Smile
But then does that not just fuck things up further?

I mean you are told to book a time slot and arrive bang on time, in order to prevent massive queues at the site. Also if they only have 50 tests available and people book them, then someone turns up who has booked at another site, will they're still be enough tests left at the site for everyone that have actually booked that day?

Flube · 15/09/2020 11:28

😱 wtf?! Shambles!

Fortunately, I received my QR codes within a couple of minutes. So hopefully the 4 hours is rare.

Hmmph · 15/09/2020 11:32

Total shambles.

Next time one of us gets a cold, I don’t think I will check their temperature as I can’t go through this again!

Batchcooking · 15/09/2020 11:38

It is utterly ridiculous. My employer is being fine but I feel desperately sad for people whose employers are being arseholes about it!

Forkrightorf · 15/09/2020 14:40

What an absolute shit show. I managed to get a test for DD on Sunday afternoon. It's been 49 hours now and no results, has anyone tested recently and waited this long for results? It was Bristol Airport if that makes a difference. 4 kids off school, including a new Reception starter. I am gutted for them

Cookerhood · 15/09/2020 16:28

Yes I heard of someone getting a QR code for Glasgow & turning up with it 500 miles away & being tested. Madness.

bellinisurge · 15/09/2020 17:53

At this point, I'd welcome a fucking offer of a test in Glasgow. In Greater Manchester. This is what I've been getting all day.

Impossible to get a test
Flube · 15/09/2020 18:03

@bellinisurge I had the same all day yesterday. But at 8.15pm (ish) I had 4 different sites pop up. It was a struggle to book, and I had to repeatedly hit the 'find a site' button after putting in all the details. But it eventually let me in.

So it may be worth checking in the evening. I don't know if that's when new slots are released or if it was pure coincidence that several sites popped up at once for me, after nothing all day. But I suppose it's worth a shot.

HipHopBanzai · 15/09/2020 18:57

@Forkrightorf Yes we've been waiting for results since early Sunday morning. Nothing yet. Northwest in an area with very high rate. Feels like everybody is getting results other than us.

Torres10 · 15/09/2020 18:58

I have literally just had 3 test site options come up after zilch all day!? In the south though..

perfectpanda · 15/09/2020 19:09

I was reading this thread and someone suggested 6 30pm . Anyway that worked for me and about 4 sites came up, having been trying non stop foe 4 hours. So good luck, def worth refreshing over and over.

NoSquirrels · 15/09/2020 19:13

Us too - nothing all day then a few at about 18.30.

Frustratingly, our local drive-through centre (5 mins away) was listed, I clicked, got an appt time, put in car reg and then it chucked me right back out to the beginning again. When I got back through it repeatedly refused to recognise my postcode, so I had to use my MIL’s - and then all the local places had gone & now I’m driving an hour away tomorrow. Time I can’t really spare, frankly. But then I can’t have everyone off for weeks on end either.

bellinisurge · 15/09/2020 19:56

Well, it went further all and gave me this about 20 mins ago

Impossible to get a test
Normandy144 · 15/09/2020 20:43

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.

bellinisurge · 15/09/2020 20:44

And just tried again.

Impossible to get a test
LemonTT · 15/09/2020 20:50

@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.
That happened to me last night. Lost it.

I did read some people reentered details and still had the slot. But I lost mine.

MrsPatrickDempsey · 15/09/2020 21:55

I have been advised (by someone who was advised this by 119) that as long as you have a QR code it doesn't matter where you are tested

Original poster
mumum1 · 15/09/2020 22:01

@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.
Happened to me and a few people I know. It's not booked unfortunately. After a successful booking you go onto a confirmation page x
OP posts:
Keeping2ChevronsApart · 15/09/2020 22:15

My daughter works on the test booking hotline and says so many don't have the right symptoms. When she points this out they start coughing!!

Keeping2ChevronsApart · 15/09/2020 22:17

Also a lot of people are calling to ask for advice with no symptoms at all so clogging up the lines

Lemons1571 · 15/09/2020 22:18

@Keeping2ChevronsApart do you know out of interest what would your daughters advice be for a family with colds - snotty, sneezing, sore throat, sinusy, but also a brief temperature for a couple of hours and a chesty cough?

Keeping2ChevronsApart · 15/09/2020 22:28

[quote Lemons1571]@Keeping2ChevronsApart do you know out of interest what would your daughters advice be for a family with colds - snotty, sneezing, sore throat, sinusy, but also a brief temperature for a couple of hours and a chesty cough?[/quote]
I just asked her

'if they have symptoms however brief, government guidelines are that they should isolate and try and get a test, but obviously none available at present'

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread