No lateral flow tests available

I guess the problem is that people are buying in anticipation of needing them, I think we only need to test if we are a contact of someone who has tested positive to Covid but we all want to get some in ready. It is like the shortage of toilet rolls at the start of the first lockdown!

Hopefully, once most people have got a stash hoarded away, the rest of us will be able to order some. I do have a couple of spare packs as I ordered extra once I knew my sister was coming over from the US to stay with me for Christmas, we always intended to have LFT tests before we met up with the rest of the family. I hope I have enough!

I’m very excited as she is now on a plane flying over the Atlantic and will be here in the morning. She is having her arrival PCR at the airport so hopefully I won’t have to isolate with her for too long until she gets a negative result. It’s been three years since we have seen her and since she has seen our Mum who is now in a dare home with advanced dementia so it’s going to be an emotional reunion - possibly the last time my sister sees my Mum.

Your DD’s visit is important for so many life affirming reasons and you must be excited. I hope it all goes smoothly and you enjoy a great Christmas with her. ????

I guess the problem is that people are buying in anticipation of needing them, I think we only need to test if we are a contact of someone who has tested positive to Covid but we all want to get some in ready. It is like the shortage of toilet rolls at the start of the first lockdown!

People are also testing before they attend a social gathering, as did our book club before we met on Monday.

BTW, I was able to order online at 07.30 this morning.

Riverwalk

^I guess the problem is that people are buying in anticipation of needing them, I think we only need to test if we are a contact of someone who has tested positive to Covid but we all want to get some in ready. It is like the shortage of toilet rolls at the start of the first lockdown!^

People are also testing before they attend a social gathering, as did our book club before we met on Monday.

BTW, I was able to order online at 07.30 this morning.

Yes, same here Riverwalk. I tested before a concert on Monday, before French group on Tuesday and yesterday before having lunch round a friend's whose daughter is temporarily living with her is pregnant.

Our local garden centre always has loads? They
have a post office counter too though so that may be the reason?

None available online and my pharmacist has run out. Not exactly brilliant planning by Boris, is it?

maddyone

Is it BJ’s personal responsibility to order lateral flow tests?

It’s his responsibility to engage his brain before opening his mouth….

Grantanow

None available online and my pharmacist has run out. Not exactly brilliant planning by Boris, is it?

Don’t you realise there is a worldwide shortage of lateral flow tests, still we are lucky we don’t have to pay for them as they do in many countries. Labour spouting off as usual, fix the shortage, if it’s worldwide what answer do these nonentities have to help, that’s right non.
www.itv.com/news/2021-12-29/pharmacies-asked-for-lateral-flow-tests-every-five-minutes-amid-shortages

Oh really? A world wide shortage of LFTs? And how long has this 'shortage' been known about?

Or is it just another excuse for government incompetence?
I seem to remember the same excuse being used about the PPE shortage in spring 2020 when in fact the government had warehouses full of out of date & useless PPE because they hadn't bothered to maintain the stock properly.

If you're going to run a covid policy that depends on millions of people taking numerous LFTs you should at least ensure that you have reliable and adequate supply of them. If you can't ensure that you need to have an alternative mitigation policy to implement that isn't dependent on frequent self testing.

Do the tory apologists actually believe that a government has no 'duty of care'? That it has no obligation to protect its citizens from harm?

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

I've just ordered some to be delivered. I'm CEV so don't really want to trawl round pharmacies trying to find some.

GrannyGravy13

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

Well, I ordered some from the govt. website on Sunday. they haven't arrived yet and I've had no notification of either delivery or inability to supply.

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

Well, I ordered some from the govt. website on Sunday. they haven't arrived yet and I've had no notification of either delivery or inability to supply.

We both ordered LFT’s last week and they were delivered within 36 hours as were our AC’s who informed us of the release during the day policy (and staff members who we ask to test on alternate days).

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

Well, I ordered some from the govt. website on Sunday. they haven't arrived yet and I've had no notification of either delivery or inability to supply.

We both ordered LFT’s last week and they were delivered within 36 hours as were our AC’s who informed us of the release during the day policy (and staff members who we ask to test on alternate days).

Perhaps you could tell me the magic words you used to get such prompt attention, GG13.

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

Well, I ordered some from the govt. website on Sunday. they haven't arrived yet and I've had no notification of either delivery or inability to supply.

We both ordered LFT’s last week and they were delivered within 36 hours as were our AC’s who informed us of the release during the day policy (and staff members who we ask to test on alternate days).

Perhaps you could tell me the magic words you used to get such prompt attention, GG13.

No magic words, just persistent looking on Gov.U.K. website and not ordering over the weekend or on a Bank Holiday.

I managed to order some online today at about 8am. I had tried late yesterday evening but none were available then.
Now I just have to wait to see if they come, but as my order was accepted and confirmed, I am fairly confident that they will.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

GrannyGravy13

It totally depends when you go to the Gov.U.K. website as to whether there are LFTs available for delivery.

They release them in batches throughout the day. DH went online yesterday morning there was no availability, returned to the site around 1.30pm was able to order them and he has just had message to say they will be delivered today.

Well, I ordered some from the govt. website on Sunday. they haven't arrived yet and I've had no notification of either delivery or inability to supply.

We both ordered LFT’s last week and they were delivered within 36 hours as were our AC’s who informed us of the release during the day policy (and staff members who we ask to test on alternate days).

Perhaps you could tell me the magic words you used to get such prompt attention, GG13.

No magic words, just persistent looking on Gov.U.K. website and not ordering over the weekend or on a Bank Holiday.

Jeez. When I ordered my tests there was no indication on the website that there were none available, or that you had to have insider knowledge of when best to order them. One kind of assumes that they are despatched on a first come first served basis, not on a 'send them to people in the know' basis.

This should not be difficult. If the government wants us all to test within an inch of our lives they should make it easy for a supply to be obtained by anyone who requests them.

MaizieD DH’s LFT pack has just been delivered by the postie.

There are a shortage of postman due to them having to self-isolate, we have gone from receiving post daily down to once or twice a week.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD DH’s LFT pack has just been delivered by the postie.

There are a shortage of postman due to them having to self-isolate, we have gone from receiving post daily down to once or twice a week.

Very good point GG13 about the postie. Self-isolation is causing problems everywhere.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD DH’s LFT pack has just been delivered by the postie.

There are a shortage of postman due to them having to self-isolate, we have gone from receiving post daily down to once or twice a week.

Not sure that that is true of the NE. Amazingly, we seem to have one of the lowest rates of daily new cases in the whole of the UK. ( though the figures I have are from a few days ago and may have changed) I haven't noticed any change in the frequency of deliveries. We're still getting a daily one.

I shall live in the hope that my test kit arrives today

and be very cross with my OH who I suggested should also order a test kit a couple of days ago because I was worried about the possible shortage of kits, but he hasn't got round to doing it. I generally find his calm approach to life to be a good counter to my impulsiveness, but this time I'm )

(Incidentally, I'm sorry to hear that your deliveries are so infrequent. It must be very frustrating for you)

I ordered some on Monday but they haven't come yet, Wednesday. This is the first time they haven't come the next day. I'm just grateful that they're on the way.

Youngest grandson has just tested positive ( asymptomatic) and DD couldn’t get any LFT’s anywhere. Thankfully I had some she can have.

Just got two boxes at my local pharmacy no problem at all

Just be thankful they are free, when you can get them.

DD, in Australia, has to pay $20 for ONE, yes ONE, single LFT. Not a box of 7, just 1 single test.

You can get a test free at a test centre, but big queues, at least where she is.

I’m starting to think we are all over testing and creating a shortage.