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Covid

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Original poster

How far are you from a test centre?

75 replies

GreyishDays · 14/11/2020 12:35

I feel like we’re really lucky and are about a 15 minute drive from a test place.
How far are you?

I’m just heading off there now (for the second time today after taking my DD this morning and then having realised I can’t taste my lunch).

OP posts:

DianaT1969 · 14/11/2020 22:21

8 minutes walk

Changethetoner · 14/11/2020 22:22

No idea. I'm guessing in the nearest city, 30 miles away.

ShivD · 14/11/2020 22:26

5 minute drive but it used to never be an option when booking a test. I think it’s less busy now though.

itsgettingweird · 14/11/2020 22:29

1.5 miles. It's a new test centre and apparently walk in - I think you book an appointment?

Don't know as haven't had to go.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 15/11/2020 07:58

5 minute cycle. It's slightly closer than the local supermarket.

CarryOnWalking · 15/11/2020 08:03

15 minute drive from a walk in one
20 mins drive from a drive in one.

Bellal · 15/11/2020 08:06

15 mins drive from two.

Hardbackwriter · 15/11/2020 08:06

We have one a ten minute drive away but we've needed tests twice and neither time has it offered us that one - we've had to go about a 30/40 minute drive away each time. I'm not sure if it's just that the nearby centre is very busy or that it offers walkthrough so it doesn't show it to you if you say you have a car?

BeaufortScale · 15/11/2020 08:07

Well, that’s as interesting. I had assumed 20-60 minutes drive (depending on traffic, outer London) but there are three new ones much closer since I last checked! So about 10 minutes drive with parking (unusual locally, so a big bonus) or I could walk it in 49 minutes.

Redcrayons · 15/11/2020 08:09

We have two in our town. The walk in one is about 2 miles away. I don’t know where the drive in one is, but it won’t be too far away as it’s not a big place.

I’m just outside Liverpool and there’s loads of new temporary ones there. 15/20 minute drive at the most.

WhoopsSomethingWentWrong · 15/11/2020 08:11

About 15 miles away.

Original poster

GreyishDays · 15/11/2020 08:13

@itsgettingweird

1.5 miles. It's a new test centre and apparently walk in - I think you book an appointment?

Don't know as haven't had to go.

Around here you book whether it’s drive or walk through. The ‘walk’ means on foot, not ‘walk in’ whenever you want.

OP posts:

SingANewSongChickenTikka · 15/11/2020 08:14

Ten minute drive

FuzzyPuffling · 15/11/2020 08:16

I've just checked...nearest permanent one would be a 3 hr return drive. Not something you'd attempt with a high fever.
Temporary ones travel round the county, so could also be over an hour's drive each way, and no guarantee they'd be anywhere near when you need one.
Thankfully, when I needed a pre op test in August, the NHS sent two nurses in hazmat suits round to my house and did the test on my front doorstep.

Calmandmeasured1 · 15/11/2020 08:16

Just had to check as I had no idea. I think it's about 20 minute drive away although I don't recognise the place at all.

NatalieH2220 · 15/11/2020 08:27

There is one 2 mins down the road. However when I did need a test there weren't any slots so had to drive an hour to get one.

DelphineWalsh · 15/11/2020 08:33

I can see it from my front door.

daisybrown37 · 15/11/2020 08:37

5 mins walk due to there being one at the local university at the moment. I wonder if this will close once the students finish for Christmas?

Otherwise 10 minutes drive.

Vinorosso74 · 15/11/2020 08:43

Two minute walk away.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 15/11/2020 09:06

It varies - 8-10 miles from a fixed one, but there are a mobile ones that moves around the county. Looking at their locations, they don't come any closer than the fixed walk-in.

olderthanyouthink · 15/11/2020 09:12

@ragged you can walk or cycle to a walk through centre and for the drive through a motorcycle seems acceptable as the gov have added it to the booking portal, don't see how it's different to in foot or a bike though because not everyone has a full face helmet.

olderthanyouthink · 15/11/2020 09:16

Oh and back in summer when I tried to get DD tested the man I spoke to at the Center said to get a taxi/mini cab through a drive through and that they'd had people doing it at that one

Our nearest centre is now 25 mins walk and it has recently had signs put up in the testing bays for what to do if you haven't booked so you might be able to drop in but it's really easy to book a slot now anyway

userxx · 15/11/2020 09:18

I wonder if this will soon be a selling point on Rightmove.

HeronLanyon · 15/11/2020 09:27

Central London. No car. 15 min drive. I wouldn’t be able to use it if not well enough to walk there and back. Advice is absolutely not to use public transport (not used since March anyway) or taxi - used one since March. It was unbelievable difficult even to find out where the centres in London are - loads of out of date info and no clear current info anywhere including local authority website. Also tales of people showing up to walk in centres which are closed (sometimes for months) despite online info still showing.
I feel it’s an absolute mess here.
Looked a couple of times just in case so I knew what to do for the best - not had test or symptoms so far. Have feeling I’d just not be able to be tested. Local postal taking 7 days plus for results.
Absolute worrying mess.

Hazelmazel · 15/11/2020 09:28

There are 3 each 20 miles from here in opposite directions. I booked a test last night for this morning for a DC with a cough so it'll be about 90 minutes round trip.

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