Has anyone tried to book a test since yesterday?’

[FAQs]

I’ve been trying for 15 hours so far and the website is busy, phones 119 and no tests available throughout England test centres.

Really pissed off, daughter has suspected tonsillitis but won’t be allowed back to school until she has a clear test.

probably a bit late but i was told 10am is a good time to try and I got one at almost bang on 10am. That was yesterday. Earlier in the morning there was nothing.
Have also heard that 8 and 10pm are good times.

@FAQs Did your GP advise to get a test? I have tonsillitis and my GP told me there was no need even though I have a temperature as it will be caused by the tonsillitis. I appreciate that this may not satisfy the school though.

It doesn't search all of England. It can't. You've been able to book tests where I am for later on the same day for the past week or so, but Twitter was wild yesterday with people not being offered anything.

Tonsillitis seems to be going mad at the moment, I know about 8 kids off with it!

They seem to release in batches every two hours or so. I hope you manage to get one soon.

I have booked today. It took about 2 hours to get passed the 'this service is busy screen'

Past*

Finally today i managed to book a test... been trying for 3 days... and its absolutely miles away so inconvenient but im going at 1pm

Fingers crossed results come soon

I have just checked now because of your post.
There are slots showing where I live. It might just be because we are in a high incidence area.

I booked a test yesterday after several hours of refreshing. Should tests appear you need to act fast as they will go quickly. The website asks lots of questions about your occupation you may want to skip these by saying you have not been at work.

Thank you my goodness finally managed it after hours and hours of refreshing.

@BunsyGirl

They did, which makes me a little cross, she gets tonsillitis quite often so I’m pretty sure it’s what it is. She is coughing but that is fairly normal with her tonsillitis, however because she coughed several times during the phone consultations they said she shouldn’t be coughing with tonsillitis (?) and alongside her school having positive tests (not her year) they said she couldn’t return to school without a test.

I think this is part of the problem. Although I’ll have to eat humble pie if it’s positive but
certain it won’t be.

@FAQs I am starting to cough a little because the infection has gone into my sinuses (and ear) so I have a bit of a post nasal drip which means that I need to clear my throat. I also suffer a lot with tonsillitis so I am glad that my GP is taking a common sense approach. It doesn’t matter to me as I am happy to work from home but I don’t want my kids out of school all the time because their mum has tonsillitis!

@BunsyGirl I agree! I’ve just picked up her penicillin which they said I couldn’t do because I have to isolate but I had no choice it’s just the two of us and I’m perfectly fine. There is a fine line but taking into account her history of this it should have tipped the balance.

I hope you feel better soon it’s horrid tonsillitis when it gets into the sinuses, my daughter has earache as well, as normal. But it’s bloody painful you have my full sympathy!

@FAQs Thank you. I agree, given the shortage of tests, there does need to be some GP involvement and flexibility for pre-existing conditions. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to be tested every day but unless and until we get to a position where that is possible, we need a more realistic approach! Hope your daughter feels better soon.

@FAQs This was us too yesterday. Phone consult with her GP who suspects tonsillitis or glandular fever. Wants to run a blood test but before she's allowed into the practice building for that she has to have a Covid negative result. I'm in Scotland and booking the test was easy. Waiting for results now. 🤞

@LizzieMacQueen so have you got any medicine in the interim??

Test done, it’s brutal isn’t it 🤢 dd was not phased but it made my eyes water just watching. She is made of sterner stuff than me!

@BunsyGirl the other odd thing is, there was no one at the test centre other than us, no queue, in and out through the very long one way system secure drive through but lots of staff sitting around looking bored. Suspect the website isn’t coping as well as the test centres.

Hi @FAQs Yes. Penicillin prescribed but she was told not to take that unless she develops white spots etc. She's much better today. No result yet which is a pain as I should be working. I'm not convinced it won't come back inconclusive though she did follow the instructions.

Was able to get one for 10.30am yesterday afternoon. It’s the capacity to process tests that is slowing things down.

I am trying now. Without success. Just refreshing on the "very busy" screen...

I am just trying to book a test, unsuccessfully of course. Not sure if I need to start from the very beginning and enter details every time I try to check or if I can just keep refreshing the page that says 'This service is currently very busy'? Thank you!

I'm sorry if you are having delays. Results for my daughter are in - negative - total time about 26 hours.

I managed to get a test for son tomorrow morning in my our town. Phew!

@DAC21 just refresh on that "busy" page (you don't have to add it all again), and if the location given it too far away keep refreshing. It went through 2 further away towns (multiple refresh on same ones) before offering ours though.

@Theforest Thank you so much, I have now also managed to book for tomorrow morning in own town. I can't quite believe it! Hope we all get negative tests back 🤞

I tried today and couldn’t get one

Def keep refreshing, I think I ended up with a RSI injury refreshing and when it changed the screen to booking options it took a while for my eyes to commute the message to the brain, I’d gone on auto pilot.

I’ve been told we will be updated with results within 48 hours..

Got my result in 21 hours. I hop you all get results soon.