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Original poster

To think this is part of the problem with the Covid testing

20 replies

Ohwowanother · 20/09/2020 18:54

Yesterday my DS started with a cough (had a sore throat and snotty as well) so we know he needs a Covid test and we all need to isolate.

After many many many attempts I managed to order him a home testing kid today (no drive through options even 50 miles away!) I think this I ok, order the test and let my family know.

Turns out my nephew has also now started with a cough tonight and my DSil has managed to get him a test tonight at the drive in test center 5 mins from our home.

So as my Sil Is driving to the test centre I get a call saying get online quick and get DS a test they have slots until 10:30!!

Well NO I have a test that will be delivered tomorrow and do not want to waste a valuable Covid test!

Followed 5 mins later by a call from my DM saying Sil has got a drive through test book one quick and will take DS for youAngry

I am so mad at them that they don’t seem to understand that I have a test coming and to not use it would be a massive waste of NHS resources.

Just to add I am due back to work on Thursday from a year’s maternity leave so the timing of this could not be worse

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 20/09/2020 18:55

Save the postal test for the next time!

Original poster
Ohwowanother · 20/09/2020 18:58

We could do that but then we take a test away from someone who needs it now and considering how hard tests are to come by that seem a really crap thing to do

OP posts:
StatisticalSense · 20/09/2020 18:59

Not only do I wonder about there lack of understanding about the shortage of tests I wonder if the nephew is actually coughing or whether SiL didn't like the attention being taken away from her so has booked a test unnecessarily to tilt the attention back. The kind of person who would take 2 of something when there isn't enough for everyone who wants to have 1 is often also the kind of person who hates any attention being shown elsewhere.

StatisticalSense · 20/09/2020 19:00

@Reallybadidea
It doesn't (or at least shouldn't) work like that. I would imagine that testing kits that aren't returned in a certain timeframe are noted as 'unreturned' and are no longer eligible for testing if they appear back in the system weeks later, simply to stop people from stockpiling something that others need now.

Fallowdeerhunter · 20/09/2020 19:03

There’s no shortage of tests, shortage is in the lab space to analyse so you’re being a bit silly. The tests cost virtually nothing to the NHS.

Original poster
Ohwowanother · 20/09/2020 19:05

@StatisticalSense Do you know my Sil?Grin that’s is the exact response my husband had to finding out my nephew had ‘started with a cough’

She has already had 4/5 tests herself so very likely she is looking for attention

OP posts:
StatisticalSense · 20/09/2020 19:06

@Fallowdeerhunter
That totally misunderstands how the system works. They simply release the number of tests that they have capacity to process and assume they will all be returned. Whether or not there is spare physical tests sitting in a warehouse somewhere by the time they realise the OP is not using the one allocated to them it will be too late to send one to someone else to utilise the space allocated to the test given to OP in the lab.

Original poster
Ohwowanother · 20/09/2020 19:08

@Fallowdeerhunter that may be true but they are still very hard to come by so the issue is still the same. They are limiting the availability of tests as they can’t get them through the labs. That still means it is a test someone else can’t use as it is sat in my kitchen

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 20/09/2020 19:09

You know what I found out? You can't bloody cancel a test even if you call them and try.

musicalfrog · 20/09/2020 19:10

You wouldn't necessarily access those tests online anyway. The system doesn't work like that.

worriedandannoyed · 20/09/2020 19:11

I had this exact dilemma. And it turned out the those who had drive in tests the day after my postal test was received got their results a day earlier. So my kids potentially missed two extra days of school by doing a postal test. I was gutted

SunbathingDragon · 20/09/2020 19:12

@Fallowdeerhunter

There’s no shortage of tests, shortage is in the lab space to analyse so you’re being a bit silly. The tests cost virtually nothing to the NHS.
This.
Original poster
Ohwowanother · 20/09/2020 19:12

@musicalfrog possibly not but we live 10 doors down from them so you would hope the same testing options were available

OP posts:
SunbathingDragon · 20/09/2020 19:13

Followed 5 mins later by a call from my DM saying Sil has got a drive through test book one quick and will take DS for you

I appreciate you understand the rules but unless you live with your SIL and nephew it would be madness to let your DS get in the car when both are showing covid symptoms, yet one may not have it and the other could pass it on.

musicalfrog · 20/09/2020 19:18

[quote Ohwowanother]@musicalfrog possibly not but we live 10 doors down from them so you would hope the same testing options were available[/quote]
Ive tried with ppl in the same town as me (for a centre in another town nearby). It didn't work.

lifesalongsong · 20/09/2020 19:18

I don't think your SIL telling you to get a 2nd test is responsible for the shortage of lab capacity unles she has 100000s of other SILs Grin

It's an infrastructure issue and I'm guessing there's quick fix or someone would have come up with it by now.

Tbh though both children sound like they have colds, it's now being found that coughs in children aren't a typical covid symptom.

Yetiyoga · 20/09/2020 19:32

Tbh I would have probably done what your SIL is suggesting. Sorry if that is wrong. I know there isn't a shortage of tests but lab space. I would have tried to cancel the home one though.
The postal ones take much longer to come back, assuming it arrives tomorrow, you then have to post it off and then wait for the results whereas drive through would mean collected tonight so at least a day if not 2 sooner for results. Vital for getting back to work for me.

MJMG2015 · 20/09/2020 19:52

I would have tried to book the drive in one.

The physical tests cost pennies and aren't the problem, it's the labs.

Not so much for speed, but that too!, more because I'd rather someone who has done a few dud it for my child than me. I'd worry about hurting them or not getting it far enough in. Obviously if it was the only choice I'd do it, but if I had the choice of a testing centre I'd do that.

I hope they both come back negative & both kids are feeling better soon.

Yetiyoga · 20/09/2020 19:55

@MJMG2015 most of the drive through sites you do it to yourself (or your child) they don't normally have a person doing it for you. I'm assuming some variations depending where you are but I thought this was pretty widespread.

yeOldeTrout · 20/09/2020 20:06

I wondered if OP could donate an unused postal test to her child's school.

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