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Original poster

Does Test and Trace put you off going for a PCR test?

114 replies

flashbac · 14/10/2021 18:29

I find the calls from Test and Trace very annoying, unnecessarily lengthy and inefficient and intrusive. I regret sending DD for a PCR and will think twice before doing another if it means no one else is put at risk. Anyone else?
I mean, it's just going through the motions isn't it? Seen as the government don't give a shit anyway.

OP posts:
tiddlysquat · 14/10/2021 20:39

I found them awful. Just reading a script. Not very pleasant. Only one asked how were. Not at all professional .

tiddlysquat · 14/10/2021 20:41

@polkadotpixie I ignored as they were doing my head in especially as I could hear myself back on the calls, got referred to council test and trace scheme who are professionally and clinically trained and I had a very pleasant conversation and they said that was the only time they needed to speak to me so that was that.

tiddlysquat · 14/10/2021 20:44

@AvoidDairy I'd forgotten that while my head was pounding and I felt sick the caller asked me stroppily to 'phonetically please' spell out my postcode - I came up with a random selection of words and could hear dd guffawing in the next room

MrsAvocet · 14/10/2021 20:52

Oh that's reminded me of another good one profpoopsnagle
I got an 8am call one day when I was feeling at my absolute worst so I asked if they could keep it as brief as possible as I was really quite unwell and needed to sleep. This did trigger an enquiry about my symptoms and I mentioned that I was still too weak and tired to get out of bed".
Next part of the script "Do you intend to leave your house today?" 🙄
I did have other callers who seemed pretty intelligent and able to get their info without doggedly regurgitating every single word of the script though, there was a huge range.

DancingQueen85 · 14/10/2021 20:52

Can't say that I've felt harassed by them but the person I spoke to was pretty useless. Kept on asking me to confirm if the location was in England. Yes DC school is in England, yes so is their swimming class and so on. Very odd
Quite worrying to hear how many people are relying on lateral flows. They are completely useless we all had multiple negatives before a positive PCR

KateTheEighth · 14/10/2021 20:54

I had one call with them after ds2 tested positive and then nothing

tiddlysquat · 14/10/2021 20:57

@DancingQueen85 yes we did too.

I'm thinking that next winter I'll just quarantine when I have a cold because I wfh so it's easy enough . But I guess dc need pcrs because of school.

Original poster
flashbac · 14/10/2021 21:02

@OrchidFlakes

Might be luck of the draw… 5 days in and no calls yet here and only 1 text!
Don't speak too soon!
OP posts:
Essen · 14/10/2021 21:03

Yes! They called up for every member of the family and I had to go through the same lengthy phone call each time. The last one couldn’t understand much of what I said, so I had to repeat everything about 10times. It took forever.

Original poster
flashbac · 14/10/2021 21:03

@polkadotpixie

I didn't even know this was a thing! DS tested positive today and I've already had a (long winded, rambling and inefficient) call from Test & Trace but I assumed that would be it!

I'm not overly impressed tbh...they asked me if he was planning to self isolate and got a bit shitty with me when I pointed out that he's 3 and unlikely to be going out unaccompanied 🙄

I'm not doing it multiple times, it's hard enough trying to WFH with a 3 year old clamouring for my attention all day, without adding them to the mix!

What happens if you just ignore their call?

If you ignore it you get referred to the local authority. If you ignore that call someone apparently visits the house!
OP posts:
YerAWizardHarry · 14/10/2021 21:04

My son tested positive and we didn’t get a single phone call. Had to input close contacts through an email link

Cruiser11 · 14/10/2021 21:05

I got two calls, both people were friendly and the calls lasted a couple of minutes.

Felyne · 14/10/2021 21:08

@Nowmum43

Both DD's are positive and we only had that first initial phone call and then someone called round to check on us. There hasn't been any other call at all.
Someone called round?? Like turned up at your house and expected you to open the door??

I did the call for DS 9. Twice the guy asked "has your son been in contact with anyone with covid?" Me: "well clearly yes since he HAS COVID."

AvoidDairy · 14/10/2021 21:19

@Felyne 😂😂😂

It’s nice to know our taxes are well spent.

Redhotchilis · 14/10/2021 21:22

Got an email confirming DDs positive result at midnight last night. Bang on 8 this morning I got a call from a very friendly but inept guy from t&t which lasted an hour!! No idea how it lasted that long, he didn't get a great deal out of me really, I think he just fancied a chat Shock. I wasn't sent a link to do it all online, wish I had been.

He said they'd ring back on days 7 and 10. Tbh if anyone else in the house gets it I think we'll just isolate and not bother with the farce of PCRs.

Sofia71 · 14/10/2021 21:27

This is really interesting. DD tested positive on Sunday on a LFT which I reported and then did the online contact tracing form from the link they send. Subsequently confirmed with positive PCR on Monday (other 4 of us negative) but haven't had a single phonecall yet...

legosunqueen · 14/10/2021 21:38

I experienced this for the first time today as DS's positive PCR result came through at 6.30am - they were on the phone just after 8am. Best question was 'does he live in a care home?' Er, he's 15...I gave them very detailed feedback about how unjoined up their databases are & how the process could be much slicker & breathe

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/10/2021 21:39

No, I had Covid in August. I don't get why people are so bothered by the phone calls, I didn't think they were that long and I was just sitting around at home anyway.

Gherkingreen · 14/10/2021 21:44

We only got one call when DS tested +. I don't get the point asking about close contacts when there's no longer an obligation to isolate.
They asked where he'd been... err...school, which is running wild with covid so yes, I'm pretty sure it's where he caught it. No, I don't have numbers for all 2k pupils and 100 teaching staff but they could all be considered close contacts as there are no measures in place.

Thissucksmonkeynuts · 14/10/2021 21:52

Dh stopped answering the phone because he was in hospital and too ill and on the machines that go beep. So they sent 2 12 year olds in purple vests round with clip boards to disturb me and the kids. He's in hospital berks.

remotesunshine · 14/10/2021 22:19

Wouldn't put me off doing a pcr again as it's part of the process but the calls are annoying and inefficient. One woman literally sounded like she was calling from a tube train and hung up and another guy sounded like he was half asleep. Didn't inspire much confidence tbh.

Yellow78 · 14/10/2021 22:20

Yes this happened to me, I missed the calls as they rang at school run time and a guy turned up at 7pm with a clipboard to ask me questions 🤦‍♀️

Yellow78 · 14/10/2021 22:21

The school run was for the kids not having to isolate obviously 🤣

XenoBitch · 14/10/2021 22:26

Reading this thread, it would certainly put me off! I don't answer the phone to unexcepted calls from numbers I do not recognise... and I certainly wont be answering the door to anyone who had not told me in advance they are coming.

Coronado2 · 14/10/2021 22:39

I had one call the day DD tested positive, they said it would take 20 minutes and it took 40. It was painfulz as someone else said, everything I said I had to confirm it was in England. Swimming lessons in England. School in England. Guides in England. Yes, because we live in England!

Where do you think she caught it? Well probably school, but how am I supposed to know?

And when taking the names of the close contacts she actually said "enter the names of one contact on each line" I wish I could have just entered it all on a form myself instead of have her read a form to me, but I didn't get that option.

I'm grateful we didn't have any calls telling the rest of us we were close contacts or any checking DD was isolating though.