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?

[SierraHotel]

@Normandy144 I think that means you weren't successful in booking it..I had the same this morning, tried a few times for a particular time slot and the same happened as what happened to you so I selected a different time and got a confirmation message and the codes sent via email. I would try again if I was you, good luck.

[Singlewhiteguineapig]

I purchased a private test for &125 quid. Cheaper than not working 😩

[Normandy144]

Thanks for responding everyone. Looks like I will be back searching in the morning.

[MayFayre]

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

[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?!

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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!

[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

[bellinisurge]

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

[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!

[MayFayre]

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

[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

[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....

[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.

[Bupkis]

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

[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.

[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!

[Bupkis]

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

Fuckedyshiteshambles

[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]

@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!)