No lateral flow tests available

Rosalyn69

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

We're doing what the government told us to do.

As I said earlier, if this is their policy they should have ensured that they had enough testing kits to satisfy the demand. They knew about the increased transmissibility of Omicron and the fact that it would create massively increased demand for tests.

If they can't match the demand, for whatever reason, they should have had an alternative strategy ready to implement, not just shrug their shoulders and say 'that's it folks'. And blame people for doing exactly what they were asked to do.

I'm always astounded how people are so willing to let the government off the hook. Do they not consider that it has a duty to care for its citizens and do its utmost to protect them? (I asked this earlier, too. No response at all...)

WTF do people think a government is for?

I mean. Look at today's Guardian front page headline:

'Johnson admits the NHS could be overwhelmed in the next few weeks'

It's astonishing. What does he intend to do about it? Let the NHS go under?. Nah.. we'll just blame people for testing too much...

Just picked up a box of 20 in town, they hand them out every Wednesday. no questions asked, no order number required.

MaizieD

Rosalyn69

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

We're doing what the government told us to do.

As I said earlier, if this is their policy they should have ensured that they had enough testing kits to satisfy the demand. They knew about the increased transmissibility of Omicron and the fact that it would create massively increased demand for tests.

If they can't match the demand, for whatever reason, they should have had an alternative strategy ready to implement, not just shrug their shoulders and say 'that's it folks'. And blame people for doing exactly what they were asked to do.

I'm always astounded how people are so willing to let the government off the hook. Do they not consider that it has a duty to care for its citizens and do its utmost to protect them? (I asked this earlier, too. No response at all...)

WTF do people think a government is for?

I mean. Look at today's Guardian front page headline:

'Johnson admits the NHS could be overwhelmed in the next few weeks'

It's astonishing. What does he intend to do about it? Let the NHS go under?. Nah.. we'll just blame people for testing too much...

I’ve just found a pile of newspapers from March 2020 which was before we stitched to an online version. It’s quite fascinating reading what it was like just as the pandemic was beginning. And also reading about how the government was reacting to the threat ie it wasn’t. I’m not going to forget how this government have handled the greatest threat to the people of this country in my lifetime.

I’m not sure everyone is doing what they are being asked to do by the Government. I test twice a week which I think is the Welsh Government advice. Less if I haven’t been out. A box of 7 lasts approx 3 weeks.
I know my dentist tests daily which is understandable.

UK Meds are selling a box of 20 for
£83

FannyCornforth

UK Meds are selling a box of 20 for
£83

Don't think many people will want to pay that much when they should be free.

I know, it’s outrageous, but people will if they are worried enough

Rosalyn69

I’m not sure everyone is doing what they are being asked to do by the Government. I test twice a week which I think is the Welsh Government advice. Less if I haven’t been out. A box of 7 lasts approx 3 weeks.
I know my dentist tests daily which is understandable.

Testing before you go to a social event? (Christmas and New Year?) I bet that used up a few.

I box of 7 tests won't last a two person household for 3 weeks.

My ex son-in-law has covid. Shares care of DGS with my daughter. She's been testing herself & child every couple of days to ensure that they don't have anything to pass on to us and to ensure DGS was clear to go back to school. I doubt if she's the only one in that sort of situation. So many people now have omicron, there must be a lot of testing going on in families.

OH has just brought the post in. My box of tests has arrived

How much? Friend ordered some and paid £35 for 7! as could not get some anywhere. She had to visit her elderly, frail mum to help, cook and shop- every other day.

I can't get any. I've ordered some online but they might not be here for at least 2-3 weeks. Meanwhile I have symptomatic people I can't test. PCR results might take a week for those who have been able to get one. My doctor isn't doing them as they don't have enough staff. Obviously I'll work this out the best I can.

Kali2

How much? Friend ordered some and paid £35 for 7! as could not get some anywhere. She had to visit her elderly, frail mum to help, cook and shop- every other day.

Still free via NHS
I ordered another box at the weekend - the order was accepted.

Good for you. I know many however who have resorted to buy as they just could not get any over Christmas period.

In the big box of 20 the first instruction is that these are convenient to use within households and in the community. So all people have to do is share them in the family or with friends if someone hasn't got them. No need to pay for them.

LFT kits are available in our local chemist today.

Met a friend for coffee in a local hotel today. She was carrying two LFT kits. When I asked her about this, she said she was in the chemist for something else and she said she would pick one up on her homeward journey. The assistant replied that she should take it now and one for her husband as she suspected they would all be gone by the time she came back. Scaremongering, sales pitch or what? And not a penny changing hands! Incidentally, after our extended sojourn, I popped into same chemist and picked one up without problem.

I do agree that the assistant in the chemist gave a persuasive Spiel Kim19, and I have actually heard that fewer of the new 20 tests have been ordered, but how can it be a Sales pitch if you don't actually have buy them?
They are free, (just to stop the anxiety rising amongst posters here).
Glad you got some too!

Kali2

Good for you. I know many however who have resorted to buy as they just could not get any over Christmas period.

It can come down to the time of day you try to order. When I have read none were available I just tried later , sometimes late at night, also very early in the morning (before 6) and just, well, persevered. .
I have had 4 boxes altogether

Education secretary Nadim Zahawi told the BBC there are currently no plans to ask people to pay for lateral flow tests, amid speculation that the free service could be scrapped if Omicron infections decline. He said an extra 425 million tests are due to be made available this month with further shipments expected after that

I haven’t seen any of the larger boxes, the one I received today from the gvt website has the usual seven tests in. There was not choice about which kit I wanted.

When I first logged in last Thursday evening, I got the message that no delivery slots were available but I went on again an hour or so later and was able to book a set.

MayBee70, an awful lot of us will never forget the 'too little, too late' approach back then - how can we, with all those lives lost?

Ordered of the gov website earlier and ack email received.

Off

I could not get any over the Christmas period but today I managed to order some, not sure how long they will take, I also managed to collect a box of 7 in the chemist so the shortage situation seems to be easing.

I ordered some from the Govt. website yesterday morning, and they arrived via Royal Mail at 8.30 this morning. Very impressive.

Stop taking the tests, stop reporting the results and get on with your lives.