Covid tests - free for eligible people?

[Blessedbethefruitz]

Just looking for quick info - I was vaccinated again in November with NHS alongside flu (no idea why i qualify, mayne asthma?). Does this mean I'm eligible for free tests from the pharmacy?

I wouldn't usually bother, but my mum is visiting Friday and she manages home carers and has to test regularly still. I've never lost taste and smell before, and never had covid that I'm aware of.

No. Only if you would be eligible for drugs for treatment of covid if you got it.

I'm eligible for free tests - the reason I think I am is that I had a bad bout and have had three/four chest infections off the back of it, having had none for a decade previous

Ps - I just have to go to Gov website and enter my nhs number and they send the tests so assume I couldn't just rock up to pharmacy and ask for them...they always arrive 24 hours after ordering on gov website

My DD got them free a few months ago because of her DP and DS asthma and other health issues, but not from a pharmacy,it was postal, but she told me it has now stopped.

@YouRatBastard
Sorry, what does that mean? Are some people who are admitted to hospital not given drugs for covid while others are?

No , it’s people with certain illnesses , a letter and some tests were sent out earlier in the year . My daughter ( adult) and I both had the autumn booster but she never got the free tests whereas I did .

@Blessedbethefruitz Everyone is treated as clinically appropriate at hospital. But if you get Covid at home, some people are given medication, most are left to deal with it themselves. If you’re someone who would qualify for medication to assist you to deal with Covid, you’re eligible for free tests.

it doesn’t sound like you are - you’d have had a letter and previous free tests.

I was sent email about being eligible for treatment so assume that if you've been contacted and are on the list then you'll get tests

You could always buy some if you need them. They are widely available

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/testing-for-covid-19/who-can-get-a-free-covid-19-rapid-lateral-flow-test/

You can get them from a pharmacy if you're eligible for antivirals. I didn't have to show proof but they know which meds I'm on that qualify me for iv treatment if I get covid.

You can't get them online anymore

People who are immunocompromised are eligible for tests (such as Rheumatology patients, dermatology, gastro) if they take medications that damper down their immune system. Those patients would be eligible for anti-viral treatment for Covid because they’d be more likely to have worse symptoms and take longer to recover. Also they can’t take their meds while they’re ill so they benefit from treatment that gets them better quickly.
NHS staff are eligible (e.g. I work with immunocompromised patients and I can’t work with them if I have Covid).
You’d have to ask at your local pharmacy to see if you could get tests but if you don’t meet criteria the attitude is very much ‘go out and get on with things’ these days.

Thanks all. I'm not entirely sure from reading as I take seretide daily. I'll check, and buy some if not. I'm fine, I just wouldn't want to infect my mum and then pass it to a large group of vulnerable people.

No I mean immunocompromised people etc, who are eligible for covid treatments as soon as they test positive, are eligible for free tests at the pharmacy precisely because they are eligible for treatments, so need to know if they have covid asap. They need to have antivirals within the first 5 days.

More people used to be able to get the free tests postally but this has now stopped.

Seretide wont qualify you for free tests I’m afraid.

OP- the cheapest tests I found were on amazon, flo flex brand. It was the same brand I'd previously bought at boots, but much cheaper!

@YouRatBastard - thanks! I'll just grab some in town then and not bother the pharmacy :)

Our local pharmacies, even in the next big town, don't have any. I got 3 in Asda in the summer. They don't have any more. I also used Amazon.