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Covid

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Original poster

Test and Trace

50 replies

Member345787 · 17/09/2021 14:42

I was surprised by our experience with Test and Trace this week. DS and DD both tested positive after an outbreak at school, and I was telephoned by Test and Trace after receiving their results.

I absolutely appreciate that it is a basic admin role to collect information and they are following a script but it does feel like a clunky way of collecting information!

I don't know many people's telephone numbers off by heart because they are all stored in my phone (I struggled to remember some people's full name during the telephone conversation!) As Test and Trace rang me on my mobile, I couldn't work out how to access my contacts whilst on the call (and no they couldn't call back nor could I call them back). I have since realised that many of the school mums I only have FB contact with, so I don't even have their mobile numbers.

I don't know any of the family's NHS numbers off by heart. No I don't know the postcode to the primary school without Google. I also had to repeat a lot of the information to the caller because they didn't recognise the area names or couldn't hear me properly.

I had already notified everyone anyway through various Whatsapp and FB groups, and kept the school informed, and I appreciate that maybe not everyone would do that. But why don't they send out a form through email and ask you to fill in contact details for all your contacts and return the form - at least then I could give it some thought and access all resources to find the information I needed.

I appreciate it is a necessary function in current climate but it felt like a very antiquated method of collection

OP posts:

Hcolhcsra · 21/09/2021 22:23

Just to be clear, I'd test DD if she was symptomatic and I am lateral flowing anyway for work.

Revengeofthepangolins · 22/09/2021 05:30

The email that told me I had tested positive had a link to test and trace so I just filled it in online, which allows me to look up phone numbers, nhs numbers and post codes in my own time. Took a while but much preferable to doing it on the phone which would have been a bit of an ordeal as talking painful.

Redsquirrel5 · 22/09/2021 06:02

DS1 has a positive pcr after two negative lft.
D h waiting for his😠

finished31 · 22/09/2021 07:05

It makes no sense why they are insisting on close contacts if people you have been close to don't need to isolate. Am I missing something?

I've just read a post about a child testing positive in school and they didn't get sent home wtf!

Test & Test is good in theory to ensure people are staying in as some fuckers just won't but can't wrap my head why they want contacts.

Go easy if I've got it wrong i have a sore throat ☹️

Original poster

Member345787 · 22/09/2021 13:34

Well I suppose there is still a point in notifying close contacts because you can then be extra vigilant about watching out for symptoms even if you don't isolate.

OP posts:

finished31 · 22/09/2021 15:30

@Member345787

Well I suppose there is still a point in notifying close contacts because you can then be extra vigilant about watching out for symptoms even if you don't isolate.

I would 100% notify close contacts.

middleager · 22/09/2021 16:05

Oh and yesterday they told doubled vaxxed DH that he needs to self isolate for 10 days after me and DS have Covid.
They also texted him this.
It's wrong information. Luckily I know this but others won't.

finished31 · 22/09/2021 17:15

Boris is nuts....surely if you test positive the whole household should isolate too I know the rules have changed.

My niece tested positive (caused in school) which resulted in my other niece going into college and then a positive result 4 days later and the same for my brother. Half his work have gone off now.

MrsWhites · 29/09/2021 10:32

Just had to endure this call as my DD tested positive yesterday.

45 min of who has she been with and where has she been repeated over and over again but with constantly changing dates - started with 48 hours before, then a week and then 2 weeks. Who remembers everywhere they went last week? Every name I gave them they said ‘we can’t contact them because they are under 16’ - so what is the point of contacting children who test positive then?

Do they ring more than once for children?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/09/2021 10:40

I've had two calls, one for each daughter. Saturday 8am and Sunday 8am. Fortunately only place they've been is school the two days before (and for the week before I remembered Cubs but forgot Rugby).

Nothing since.

And the best question... Where do you think they got it?

MilitantFawcett · 29/09/2021 10:43

It’s a nightmare. All 4 of us positive - I’ve filled in the form online for all of us, informed schools, workplaces etc. Still getting 4 calls a day plus emails asking us for information. I’m trying to be patient but when you aren’t well it’s the last thing you need. I’m afraid the final straw was when I was asked for contact details for sons friends at school - no random person on the phone I won’t give you mobile phone numbers for 14 year old kids, even assuming I knew them. I’m ignoring them now, no wonder it’s costing so much money.

middleager · 29/09/2021 10:50

I'm finally out of their clutches today and no longer answer their calls.

I still can't believe the lack of empathy or any humanity they showed last week when I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, I kept saying 'I've got Covid, I can't do this right now' when grilling me about my son, and they just threatened to go to the LA if I didn't answer their 25 minutes of questions, even though I'd completed the form online.

I should believe it, I've had dealings with them last year.

Happyharry2003 · 30/09/2021 12:53

I finally lost the plot with t and t yesterday. On the 6th call they asked about my sons clubs. I told them he’d been to a water sports cub. They said their was no option on the system for water so I had to decide if he’d been kayaking in a field or a building. I mean…..?????!!!!

Happyharry2003 · 30/09/2021 12:53

*there

PhiRhoSigma · 30/09/2021 19:26

I'm a bit puzzled that so many posters here are having to field phone calls in order to provide contact details. We currently have covid in the house - me and 2 x DDs, both young adults. Caught it one after the other. Following positive pcrs, we have all received text/emails with a link and a/c number, to fill out all the contact tracing ourselves, online. (this is not the NHS 'app', I don't have that). It was very straightforward.
The phone calls from t&t have only been about checking we were isolating.

JelliedHeels · 30/09/2021 23:39

It's a shambles. I've had two texts in two days saying my name has been given as a contact of someone I've seen in the last two days (working back from last day of self isolation had I not been vaccinated). The only possible explanation is that my dogs have been secretly taking tests and reporting them! I've literally not left the house.

JelliedHeels · 01/10/2021 03:19

I've realised that the second text explained that I had been incorrectly identified. Three hours after that was sent I had a long conversation with someone from Teat and Trace who clearly didn't have that information.

Meanwhile, because I put my number down for my teenager's PCR (just for ease) we had two texts confirming appointments but only one QR code. Though we were allowed in to test there had obviously been an error. The guy in the test centre assured me he had sorted it out, but as I expected, only one result arrived. We've only just left September and the whole thing is chaos.

JelliedHeels · 01/10/2021 03:19

*Test and Trace

myadhdusername · 01/10/2021 03:32

Totally agree OP! I tested positive recently and they were on the phone immediately and I’d only really been to work so told them so. I then filled in the online thing but still had numerous other phone calls and texts! Bordering on harassment really.

Wabola · 01/10/2021 06:13

T&T harassment is why I wouldn't bother testing, I am perfectly able to isolate without their intervention, I'm retired and have no children under 18 and not going on holiday overseas anytime soon, so no reasons to have to test

littlepeas · 01/10/2021 06:28

I find the level of harassment described here completely unacceptable and avoid PCR testing as much as possible in order to avoid being harassed!

amylou8 · 01/10/2021 06:39

Don't take a test is the easiest way around this. Doors and phones are great as well, the can stay closed or unanswered quite easily.

Lollipop444 · 01/10/2021 16:49

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

And yes they asked me if I knew the names of the kids that my DD had been sat next to in class before she tested positive. Sod that for a lark, if they really need to know they can contact the school and ask them.

That’s what I said too! Ridiculous!

junebirthdaygirl · 01/10/2021 17:08

I have Covid at the moment. Result of test said tracers will be on it would be useful to have information ready. I put all numbers and names on sheet ready to roll when they called. Option of doing it online was also given. I felt no pressure. A few places were in the public domain so local health system called me again on these eg beautician as needed more information about masks etc. I found it fine.

JanglyBeads · 01/10/2021 17:16

When I got calls from them for DS on Monday they said they’d only call very 3 days after that.

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