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I may have to make an essential work trip abroad so I have been keeping track of new “Test To Release” Govt scheme announced on Nov 27th. It comes into play tomorrow. You take a PCR swab test for Covid 5 days post return & if clear, early end to isolation. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel
The Govt have been saying they’d release the list of approved test providers ‘close to Dec15’. (You MUST use one of these.) Today, Dec14, they finally released the list. It’s got 11 private test providers on it, spread across the country. Here’s the list: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-private-providers-of-coronavirus-testing/list-of-private-providers-of-coronavirus-testing
Already, Test To Release looks like it’s in trouble, BEFORE it starts.
@samedaydoctorUK
‘Unfortunately we have been so overwhelmed with requests for Test & Release that we cannot answer any more emails nor take any more bookings & WE HAVE ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE GOVT LIST’
@samedaydoctorUK
‘Unfortunately we have been so overwhelmed with requests for Test & Release that we cannot answer any more emails nor take any more bookings & WE HAVE ASKED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE GOVT LIST’
@medicspot
‘Over the weekend, our lab encountered problems with its analysis. There were significant volumes of retests which were required & many of our customers have had their test results & certificates significantly delayed...we are not taking any new orders for testing.’
‘Over the weekend, our lab encountered problems with its analysis. There were significant volumes of retests which were required & many of our customers have had their test results & certificates significantly delayed...we are not taking any new orders for testing.’
2 of the other 9 only offer you to ‘register your interest by email & we’ll let you know when you can buy a test.’
The scheme supposedly starts tomorrow. Actually, scrap that, I just saw the time, it’s now December 15th. Today. No sign of being able to book a test with those 2.
The scheme supposedly starts tomorrow. Actually, scrap that, I just saw the time, it’s now December 15th. Today. No sign of being able to book a test with those 2.
This app based testing company - Halo - look alluring, on paper. But there’s no phone number, no email address, a lack of clarity in the FAQs, & it basically inspires zero confidence as they look like they’ve never even heard of proper customer service.
https://www.haloverify.com/buy/
https://www.haloverify.com/buy/
This company @Screen4 is all over the country but have opening hours of a company established in 1973. Monday to Friday 9-5, & strictly no weekends (well, Sat in Cambridge) which is a bit bloody daft when you’re dealing w people who are paying privately precisely cos in a rush.
This London based service, on the other hand, promise 24/7 service with a fast turnaround on test results. Great!
BUT!...they charge £295 (!!!) while ALL the other approved Test to Release testers “only” charge between £80 and £130. https://www.thelondongeneralpractice.com/covid-19-testing/
BUT!...they charge £295 (!!!) while ALL the other approved Test to Release testers “only” charge between £80 and £130. https://www.thelondongeneralpractice.com/covid-19-testing/
I’m too tired to go through all the others right now. Please will someone tell me if they see one that isn’t either pleading to be taken OFF the list (that only just went public TODAY), or has already messed up people’s schedules & plans with lab failures, or isn’t extortionate?
Seems Test To Fly is also proving, erm, ‘challenging’ for these Private Testing companies who are charging people (excuse the pun) through the nose for supposedly urgent nasal swabs. £149 and all you get is a missed flight. Gulp. https://twitter.com/atheniancapital/status/1338482073917673475
Admirably concise review. https://twitter.com/kate_mesi/status/1338497274951954434
Sincere apology isn’t going to quite cut it when people are waiting at airports or missing their essential flights, is it? Another glorious chapter in Britain’s collective effort to cream as much profit off the pandemic as possible. Why am I unsurprised by this? And tired of it. https://twitter.com/medicspot/status/1338475278566387714
But while @medicspot are at least apologising for Lab problems, which while unfortunate, aren’t deliberate, this guy: @samedaydoctorUK (from company that says it won’t take any calls & is going to ask Govt to be taken OFF approved list) doesn’t seem to think Covid is a problem.
This particular Private Doctor seems to have some pretty bad ideas, and isn’t very good at predicting things, even when they seemed pretty obvious. He is also, it seems, a popular guest for certain Right Wing shock jocks on the wilder fringes of British radio. https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1326483393434034176
And Dr Laurence Gerlis of @samedaydoctorUK also says there will NOT be a post Christmas Covid spike. Phew. What a relief. Of course, I’m sure he’ll stand up & be counted if he’s wrong. Right?
(These are the people on the APPROVED GOVT LIST...are we being handed over to cranks?) https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1335874560231661568
(These are the people on the APPROVED GOVT LIST...are we being handed over to cranks?) https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1335874560231661568
Although Talk Radio have got his name in tweet wrong here...which is cute.
How did this company get on an approved list, that’s what I want to know. He’s doesn’t want to be & is already asking to be taken off it, which seems a bit at odds with the Hippocratic oath, doesn’t it? https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1331922711296307201
How did this company get on an approved list, that’s what I want to know. He’s doesn’t want to be & is already asking to be taken off it, which seems a bit at odds with the Hippocratic oath, doesn’t it? https://twitter.com/talkradio/status/1331922711296307201
He didn’t like them misnaming him though. Nothing if not punctilious. Really, you should check out this guy’s timeline. This service is one of only ELEVEN COMPANIES on the APPROVED ‘TEST TO RELEASE’ Private Testing list.
I. Just. Can’t....
I. Just. Can’t....
And then you hear a lovely old chap on Today programme who is stuck in a Care Home away from his family & suddenly the reality of all this hits you in the face. At some point soon, all this sadness- & all this anger at Govt failure - that we are all suppressing, WILL boil over.
