No Walk in PCR tests available...anywhere!

[GreySweater]

I have just had a positive LFT in the last hour. Hoping to jump in the car and get a PCR test asap. No availability, pretty much anywhere. Just a long list of regions with 'no availability' next to them.

Unless I am going mad and have missed something, but between this and LFTs running out - what the hell hope do we have?!! Have ordered a home PCR test which they say will take about 2 days to arrive. Utter shambles.

Can't you book rather than doing "walk in"?

Sorry - this is when I tried to book just now! So technically not a 'walk in'. Infact I don't know if there are any that you can just walk into without booking? Grateful for any info on that! So yes, the title of this thread is probably wrong!

The postal ones have a surprisingly quick turnaround in my experience. If you need an alternative.

Oh I missed the last bit of your post! Normally they come the next day!

How strange, not doubting you but I just booked one and I could have sworn every region had a big green "Available" banner next to it.

Am in Scotland and the three closest to me had over 100 appointments available today. 383 at the doctor's surgery 5 min walk away.

Did you tick the button to say you were showing symptoms?

If still nothing then I've found the home tests to be roughly the same timeframes as the walk in centres anyway, so I'd just order one of those. It'll arrive tomorrow morning and just make sure it's in the post box before the last collection (4pm for us).

We're having the same problem OP.

Sometimes there are issues with the website that mean they all show as unavailable

Try in 20 minutes and see if it’s fixed?

Just discussing it on radio apparently no region in England has any on day turn up appointment PCR tests! Basically they can’t say keep testing if close contact when you can’t physically do so. Is it back to isolating instead?

We had two positive lft in the house last night and were able to book pcr tests for today, so it must be regional. Where are you?

I ordered a PCR yesterday and it arrived this morning.

No walk or drive through options available here either. There is a wall in half a mile away which has always been easy to get appointments at in the past - even 2 weeks ago my husband got one the day he booked it. Now - nothing anywhere remotely convenient to get to.

They sometimes release them periodically throughout the day, OP. No issues in London so it’s not a nationwide thing.

Thanks for the inputs. I will keep my fingers crossed the home test PCRs arrive quickly. I'm in Surrey - nothing available in London / South East in terms of same day testing. To be honest I remember seeing some availability in Scotland and Northern Ireland but absolutely nothing anywhere else. Anyhow, sticking with the PCR home tests. But I'm guessing volume of PCR testing requests is going up and they just haven't got the capacity to service it all.

OP I've had this before but it seems to change regularly, sometimes more availability will drop on to the system at say 12pm, 2pm to address demand. Try again, hopefully you get one booked.

@GreySweater - FYI there is a private testing facility (operated by private GPs) right next to Bournemouth airport. I’m not endorsing them as I haven’t needed to use it, but I suspect that there may be delays now in the Christmas post….just putting the link here in case anyone is interested:

www.dpgpcovidtesting.co.uk

Hope you get a negative result asap!

apparently no region in England has any on day turn up appointment PCR tests!

I've just been for one 45 minutes ago - no booking, so not sure why they're saying that! NW England.

Like a PP said, home test results pretty good in terms of turnaround.

Just click continue past that page and carry on.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59651166

Nearest test centre with available appointments is 50 miles away. Need one for DS.

I have been back onto the system and indeed they have released more appointments but the nearest walk in is 10miles away (and traffic to get there is always really bad) and the nearest drive through is 20miles away. I think I'm going to just stick to my home test and keep everything crossed it arrives tomorrow. Thanks for all the comments / updates / news - very helpful x

I booked at 11pm last night and got a test at 10am this morning, there were over 1000 slots available just at my local center. Maybe its a problem with the website?

@ABitOfAShitShow

They sometimes release them periodically throughout the day, OP. No issues in London so it’s not a nationwide thing.

A family member of mine hasn't been able to find anything today (East London).

@GreySweater

Thanks for the inputs. I will keep my fingers crossed the home test PCRs arrive quickly. I'm in Surrey - nothing available in London / South East in terms of same day testing. To be honest I remember seeing some availability in Scotland and Northern Ireland but absolutely nothing anywhere else. Anyhow, sticking with the PCR home tests. But I'm guessing volume of PCR testing requests is going up and they just haven't got the capacity to service it all.

I've just been through the process, bloody hell, they ask you a lot of questions now..... and was offered an afternoon slot at Onslow Park and Ride in Guildford - this afternoon! I don't need one, just went through the process.

If that's of any help!!

I just checked in the Midlands and plenty of walk through and drive through available. Most areas were flagged green, the only red area showing "few tests available" was london.

@kirinm If they can drive to Belair Park in Dulwich, they’ll most likely get one quickly.

In Scotland you can get a test without an appointment. You just have to register your test afterwards. Doesn’t matter if it’s showing as fully booked.

[quote ABitOfAShitShow]@kirinm If they can drive to Belair Park in Dulwich, they’ll most likely get one quickly.[/quote]
They don't drive - well, don't have a car.