I’ve got 6 tests left.

The worry is that whether people care or not won't matter, as there will be no enforcement of testing (not that there was much in the first place). The people who think that Covid is just a cold probably haven't bothered all along, and now that more people won't get paid if they stay off work there will be others who just go off symptoms to know if they are infected or not, rather than paying for a test.

People like the nurse I mentioned, or anyone else who comes into close contact with people as part of their work, as well as people working in multi-occupancy offices or using public transport are pretty much guaranteed to be exposed to infected people, and a mask won't protect them.

Of course if we have to pay, we will pay, because I don’t want to inadvertently infect anyone, least of all the elderly people in my mother’s care home, or my two friends with cancer. However some people will find the cost too much, or simply not care now the tests are not free, and that is the big worry.

We are going to have to pay for tests for our son to attend his day centre twice a week. He also has to wear a mask all the time he's thete
Some of the guys have been attending a course in a different building. No testing and no masks. Dosen't make sense

I have just emerged from quarantine as I tested positive two weeks ago. I had to test to be sure that I would be safe to go out again - luckily I am - but I had my free LFTs. Now, some people with the minimal symptoms I had won't bother to test and may never know they've had it and if they have, will they self test to ensure they won't infect their contacts?

This is from NHS Inform, the Scottish NHS site.

Regulations have been approved by the Scottish Parliament to abolish NHS prescription charges in Scotland. From the 1 April 2011 Scottish NHS prescription forms presented for dispensing in Scotland will not attract a charge.

Prescription forms from Wales, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man will be dispensed free of charge under current arrangements when presented for dispensing in Scotland.

Prescription forms from England will be charged at the current English rate of £9.35. The exception being if the patient is exempt from paying charges as listed in Regulation 4 of the National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 or the prescription form is accompanied by a valid entitlement card.

I think private prescription charges may need paid for, but GP ones are free. That is why I am curious about Pepper's post.

I’m in England and all my medicines prescribed by the GP or hospital are free. Younger people pay of course, but children and pensioners don’t, nor many on benefits and some with certain chronic conditions don’t pay whatever their age.

Tests are free in Scotland.

I'm intrigued by your post Pepper. I am Scottish and I have twenty different medications on my repeat list and all are free. Every one is essential to keep me reasonably well and avoid hospital admissions.
In adition to that, my weekly injections, precribed by my consultant, cost £1000 per month are free and delivered to my home. Shocking I know!
I am extremely fortunate. I don't know what I would do if I had to pay for them.

Would you be willing to share, what must be paid for? I'm curious. I have never heard of anyone having to pay for essential prescriptions.

I have to test regularly too to see my daughter who is in a care setting. I have 7 tests left!

Pepper
I think the tests will still be free in Scotland, but in any case you can still get free ones until the end of March. If you happen to be 75 or over, you will still be able to get free tests wherever you are. Hope that’s helpful.

*pepper I understand your predicament but I don’t test for myself, I test to protect others who are vulnerable.
I can’t expose them to more risk than I have to.
I could say that I wasn’t going to treat them but then that makes their lives even more miserable.
One of my clients yesterday hadn’t been out of her house since 11th Feb and was so happy to have somewhere to come.
Let’s hope the price comes down.

You can still order the free ones every 3 days until the end of March. I've just ordered some more.

I had seen a news report today re tests costing £17.99 for four tests. If they want me to test, they can pay for it. I won't be paying that price on top of nearly £12 for my eye drops and £15.00 for a cream I use. Although Im Scottish, we don't get all medications for free through the GP. Though some seem to get everything going. On top of fuel and food, I will be unable to afford the tests and Im sure I won't be alone in this. Im happy to stay at home if unwell.

Jaxjacky

Doodledog if it was at your surgery, ours said today masks will still be obligatory*.

No, it was at the hospital. I assume the same will apply, though. The thing is that masks aren't going to be much use when a patient is sitting next to you for minutes at a time getting blood pressure measured and bloods taken, or any of the other things that nurses have to do. As Omicron is so infectious, surely it would be better if people were still expected to isolate if they were ill.

Doodledog if it was at your surgery, ours said today masks will still be obligatory*.

I’ve been testing twice weekly (at least) since January 2021 as I’m a teacher. I’m really concerned that I will not be able to do so once free lateral flow tests are stopped. I will have no way of knowing whether a sore throat is just that or a symptom of Covid. As I’m a supply teacher I don’t get paid if I don’t go into work so will probably ignore that sore throat and go in, hoping that I don’t pass on anything more sinister. I think the withdrawal of all testing is a retrograde step.

I went for a blood test today, and the young nurse who took it was very nervous about tomorrow. As it is, all patients have to wear masks and not attend appointments if they have symptoms, but as of tomorrow, it will be up to them if they attend or not, even if they have Covid. There will also be less incentive to test if people have to pay for the test cassettes.

I really felt for her. She's worked throughout the pandemic and has young children, and it would be such a shame if she or her colleagues became ill now for lack of sensible policies on isolation and testing.

I presume care home staff will still test and tests will be supplied by their employer
Tests will soon drop in price Superdrug are already planning to sell them at £1.99

Teacheranne and Helen657
We are also in the same position. I’m wondering what care homes are going to do as well. We have to test at home and show the result on our phone when we arrive to visit. There is also, at present, the option to test and wait for the result at the home. What will happen? Are carers not going to be required to test before going into work in care homes or private homes?

Teacheranne - We’re the same with our mums care home, but have always had to do our own lateral flow prior to visiting, and show the confirmation of reporting a negative result.
So if they still require tests before visits we’ll have no choice but to buy them.

I have also emailed my MP as well as signing the above petition. There's no point in our moaning if we're not proactive in trying to prevent this going ahead.

Thousands are signing and sharing this petition to the Govt to change this policy before it's too late.

www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-don-t-scrap-free-covid-testing-and-isolation/psf/share?cs_tk=AlLeaODs9srBHPYaHmIAAXicyyvNyQEABF8BvGoDeeC6QeBgxYbbnZTcCeg%3D&pt=AVBldGl0aW9uABvj7gEAAAAAYhTgcWPhZpQ0ZGMzNzdiMA%3D%3D&source_location=aa_augmented_sign_ask&utm_campaign=528ff7bfee9b4206b25cccd44457c030&utm_content=initial_v0_0_1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=aa_augmented_sign_ask&utm_term=cs

I’m wondering what my Mothers care home will do with testing visitors. At the moment they insist all visitors take a test at the care home before every visit but the government have said tests will not be provided free of charge for visitors after March. In fact, it looks as if they will no longer be provided for care workers, only for the NHS.

I know we pay huge amounts in fees for mums care but unless tests are made available very cheaply ( ie at cost) for homes then they will either expect us to buy our own or put their fees up even more. Or do away with testing visitors and risk frequent Covid outbreaks. It seems that care homes are being abandoned once again by the government.