'Prioritising tests'

[Yetiyoga]

I heard on the radio this morning that they are going to be prioritising tests to the most urgent. What does this mean for income? I can't afford to take 14 days off work if I get a cough that may or may not be covid. And I'm sure many others can't either. It was bad enough that results can sometimes take several days but 2 weeks is shocking. When will this mess get sorted out? Or are they going to pay us all to stay off? (And no, SSP isn't sufficient!)

also i have a really good sick record and normally work through most things (private childcare and usually get the illnesses from the kids!) I don't work with D+V obvs but most other things I do, including a cough!

I agree this is dreadful. An absolute mess. We are both NHS and my husband in particular needs to be prioritised due to his job, however I’m also hoping the message might get through to people who are testing without real need - ‘fitness to fly’ certificates etc.

We are currently in the middle of all this mess, with head colds and a gcse child who’s not at school. Next time I’m going to buy lots of throat sweets and crack on. I never thought I’d say that. But the actual damage being done in front of my eyes has tipped the scales. (we finally got tests on day 5 and still waiting for results day 7).

I’m with you. My Y11 child had to isolate four days after going back to school due to younger sister having a cough. We were over cautious. Not any more. I’m cracking on.

"Prioritisation"

m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/exclusive-teachers-could-sue-gavin-williamson-over-test-and-trace-failures_uk_5f6145cdc5b6e27db13442e4/?__twitter_impression=true
Exclusive: Teachers Could Sue Gavin Williamson Over Test And Trace Failures
Teaching union reveals Salford schools have test requests turned away, and 600 pupils in Bury are self-isolating

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has been warned he could face legal action from teachers after fresh Covid test-and-trace failures left schools unable to check if pupils have got the virus.

The teaching union NASUWT has written to Williamson to state it could sue over a breach of a duty of care and personal injury to staff caused by the reopening of schools without proper safeguards.

And in a separate letter to schools minister Nick Gibb, the union’s general secretary Patrick Roach has revealed that a dedicated testing centre for schools in Salford has had to turn away requests because of a surge in demand.

The letter, seen by HuffPost UK, states that “the number of symptomatic pupils and staff has increased to such levels that the testing site has been unable to cope with demand and has stopped taking referrals from schools”.

I’m also with the previous posters. I never thought I’d say that. I haven’t been to a shop or inside a house or restaurant or got within 2 metres of anyone since February. I have even put post and food deliveries in quarantine.

My child went back to school. Within a week has got a cold. I stupidly and obediently checked his temperature and discovered he had a fever. Now we can’t go to work or school until or unless we miraculously get the test result. And we were the lucky ones getting a test! Next time I think I’ll do what everyone else will do - assume it’s just a cold, not take his temperature so I don’t know and just carry on with our lives.

Staying home for two days to get tested is doable. Staying home for two weeks for a cold is ridiculous.

What else can they do if everyone wants a test? Hopefully the capacity for testing is about to be ramped up.

Thing is our school will check temperature if child has a cough and insist on a negative test result to return. And as far as I can tell there is a golden period that tests are accurate.

But if everyone carries on a small percentage will have Covid and cases rise, local lockdown,no financial support apart from SSP.

There is no easy answer.

Well there is much many more tests.

Trouble is we are keeping our side of the bargain and isolating if anyone has symptoms of a cough or temperature. And we are paying a high price - ruining our kids exams and life chances. The government are not keeping to their end of the bargain with speedy testing and results. So of course people will go vigilante. Should I throw my year 11 under the bus to cover the minute chance that by doing so I’m saving a mythical granny?

Maybe I should. But the tide of opinion is turning and most people won’t.

Oh and prioritise tests properly. Key workers first (proper key workers not accounts clerks working for the local pub who say they are in financial services).

I understand and have total empathy for those above saying they’ll crack on, not take temperatures and send kids into school next time.

But isn’t this exactly the way that the virus will spread very quickly and lock us all back down again. We’ve been repeatedly told kids get milder cases and international dictators recognise many more symptoms for children than our gov guidance.

And it’s great if kids only catch it mildly. But what about the vulnerable children, teachers and parents? What about the community that could see greater spread in the local community. I guess this mainly applies to those with high or rising transmission in their area.

I totally understand that it’s frustrating. I do.

@Lemons1571

Oh and prioritise tests properly. Key workers first (proper key workers not accounts clerks working for the local pub who say they are in financial services).

I think the problem is that the system is so overwhelmed they cant manage to priortise key workers and their children.

"The letter, seen by HuffPost UK, states that “the number of symptomatic pupils and staff has increased to such levels that the testing site has been unable to cope with demand and has stopped taking referrals from schools”.

First day back at school we were told that the school had priority access to tests and they could organise one for staff if needed. 2 weeks later it turned out that they had been unable to organise a test for over week so we should use just use the online booking system.

I know a hugely disrupted term was predicted on Mumsnet but am not sure I expected it to be this chaotic this quickly. It will only get worse as cases continue to rise and the weather gets colder...

"I think the problem is that the system is so overwhelmed they cant manage to priortise key workers and their children."

It is also the case that the definition of key worker is so broad most people are covered. Remember the articles where pets4home advised all their staff they were key workers at the starts of lockdown. Plus of course there are no checks when you book a test so anyone could say they are a keyworker online.

@Bluelinings

I understand and have total empathy for those above saying they’ll crack on, not take temperatures and send kids into school next time.

But isn’t this exactly the way that the virus will spread very quickly and lock us all back down again. We’ve been repeatedly told kids get milder cases and international dictators recognise many more symptoms for children than our gov guidance.

And it’s great if kids only catch it mildly. But what about the vulnerable children, teachers and parents? What about the community that could see greater spread in the local community. I guess this mainly applies to those with high or rising transmission in their area.

I totally understand that it’s frustrating. I do.

You make it sound like most people making that decision have the luxury of choice to do that.

Once they have isolated once for two weeks, and then go back and their child develops a cold then what? Few employers will tolerate half their staff constantly isolating in this way. Some employers aren't in a position where half their staff can even if they wanted too. Especially when you have teachers and NHS staff amongst those constantly being told to isolate because someone in a child's 90 person year bubble has tested positive 2 weeks after they went back after the last incident.

Yoyo schooling is less feasible than planning for complete closures in someways. You cant plan for hockey cockey classrooms. In someways its easier for all concerned to home school with limited provision for key worker children.

Trouble is with both systems children arent actually getting an education.

By all accounts it will be the end of October at the earlier before track and trace is operational. Sadly we don't have that long before infection levels have reached a problematic stage.

I don’t think everyone has the luxury of choice.

None of us have the luxury of choice. Vulnerable parents have to send their children in. Parents with vulnerable children have to send them in.

I don’t know what the answer is for any of us. I really don’t.

I just wanted UK point out what repercussions of cracking on and not taking temperatures could be. Totally not telling you not to do it. I understand.

This is all so rubbish on so many levels.

And I don’t have the luxury of choice myself.

I work in testing. Personally I think a system whereby tests are posted out to households to have on standby for when needed makes far more sense and would be cost effective v the ridiculous amount it costs to run Testing Sites.

The tests kit components cost very little but the cost when you factor in the overheads is £40 per test.
Imagine just having the tests on hand. No bloody system fails and glitches, no refreshing the booking site for hours on end.

My DH and I are both self employed, our businesses took a massive downturn over lockdown and are only just recovering. All our contingency funds are now gone. We can just about manage taking 2 days off every now and then to test as DS is a toddler and gets a temperature with every cold. DS got a temperature and a cough on Friday and we ended up putting a £180 private test on our credit card because we we couldn't get a test and were concerned that the 5 days would be up before we could get one and that would be us for 2 weeks.

The government have set rules that the vast majority of working parents can't possibly follow. I want to do the right thing, but at this stage it would be a choice between losing work and being able to put food on the table and pay the mortgage. It's a horrendous position to be in where you're asked to put the greater good ahead of your family's financial security and well-being. And I'm happy to make sacrifices, but the ramifications of having to go through this palaver several times over the winter have me constantly stressed.

Get that some people may be using tests unnecessarily, but there have always been a small number of people using services that they don't need. This shouldn't be a surprise. Nor should a massive uptick in coughs and temperatures when schools go back.

Also, I highly doubt that anyone is using tests unnecessarily now. There are no tests to use unnecessarily.

@MaidenMotherCrone

I work in testing. Personally I think a system whereby tests are posted out to households to have on standby for when needed makes far more sense and would be cost effective v the ridiculous amount it costs to run Testing Sites. The tests kit components cost very little but the cost when you factor in the overheads is £40 per test. Imagine just having the tests on hand. No bloody system fails and glitches, no refreshing the booking site for hours on end.

This is a really great idea. It would make so much more sense. Far better than paying wages to god knows how many testing site staff who are currently sitting around in empty testing centres.

I truly hope it gets sorted soon. I will do the right thing of course, but it just sucks that I will have to stretch my income more because the government can't get enough tests. And no i don't think this is the public's fault. It is the government. They say we should get tests done for a cough, temp etc... well obviously school kids back mixing will mean more coughs! They had plenty of time to prepare!

@MaidenMotherCrone

I work in testing. Personally I think a system whereby tests are posted out to households to have on standby for when needed makes far more sense and would be cost effective v the ridiculous amount it costs to run Testing Sites. The tests kit components cost very little but the cost when you factor in the overheads is £40 per test. Imagine just having the tests on hand. No bloody system fails and glitches, no refreshing the booking site for hours on end.

I can't understand why they issued schools - of varying sizes and sorts - with 10 tests each. If they'd issue schools with a supply of tests based on their cohort - say 25% of their total on-role pupils and staff - and then handed them out to each child they were suspicious of having it and sent them home to test, it would be much more efficient.

Same for keyworkers in NHS, or for care homes, or whatever.

Then the online booking & drive-in sites could be run more efficiently too for those who need them and can use them.

And if they'd sort out some kind of national employer guidelines about sick pay when isolating, with government financial support, that would help too.

I can WFH. My DH can WFH. But my DC not being able to access education is a massive issue. I'm very concerned about a 2 weeks in, 2 weeks excluded schedule - if it was planned for, fine, but it's not, and it's impossible to work around.

I'm 'Lucky' my DD9 came home with fever, cough and no smell or taste. Her school gave us one of thier tests as they knew we had and extremely vulnerable child at home! Taken on Friday and results yesterday !!!

I'm sorry some people will lose money....but my DS will lose his life!!!

My DC constantly ask if they ate going to kill him by going to school !

Priority should exist!!!

@IceBearRocks I am truly sorry that your child is vulnerable. This must be a really stressful time. I would always want to protect everyone and will always do the right thing. I think your anger is misplaced though. I am happy to self isolate if I have coronavirus. Of course I am. But if tests aren't available it could mean taking weeks / months off over the winter. This is not good enough. Your anger needs to be places at the government who should have prepared for this. I will always isolate if I have symptoms but I dont think it is unreasonable to expect a test within a few days so that we are able to go back to work if negative. That way we can protect people like your child.

Getting quite scary the amount who will send in sick children as they can’t get a test rather than isolate to stop the spread.

Looking at last year's diary, ds had 5 periods of illness over the Autumn and Winter months.

After 8 days back he's already got a temp and cough.

With no tests, this will mean weeks off for his older sisters, and weeks on ssp for his dad.

Plus bubbles won't close because cases are suspected, rather than confirmed.

This is before I even start getting my head round him contracting Covid, and how it will affect him as a clinically vulnerable child.

We will have to keep him off, at least until testing is sorted. If we get fined it will just have to be what it is.

So unbelievably fucked off about all this.