Private PCR testing - a warning from last year

cubegame

I don't know if many know this as it seemed to not get much in the way of coverage last year (possibly because so few people travelled) but anyone considering travel should be aware that the UKs private PCR testing is not fit for purpose.

This will almost certainly lead to many many disappointed holiday makers losing their holidays this year (as it did last year) as their expensive tests either fail to produce a result in time or are simply returned as "inconclusive". 

Take time to look at some of the threads that you can find on the Cyprus tripadvisor forums for examples. Many had to resort to using NHS tests (not technically allowed) to be able to travel or had to miss out entirely. The same happened at Christmas when people going to the Canary Islands were required to test before arrival and the testing system collapsed again.

Nothing has been done about the capacity and now the government is, for some bizarre reason insisting on tests for arriving travellers despite the UK having amongst the highest rate of vaccinated people in the world. Presumably this is due to the testing labs having to pay a fee to be an "approved" lab.

You can't do a lot about the obligation if you want to travel but please bear in mind that any requirement on a PCR test might lead to additional stress, worry, expense and ultimately the loss of your travel plans if (like last year) the testing system collapses again.

I would suggest that anyone booking travel and/or testing takes an equal amount of time to write to their MP to lodge their objection on the loss of our birth right to enter our country without restrictions.

Sandtree

cubegame said:

I would suggest that anyone booking travel and/or testing takes an equal amount of time to write to their MP to lodge their objection on the loss of our birth right to enter our country without restrictions.

You are talking about the PCR test to enter other countries... your MP is going to have no sway over what the government in Malta decide are their requirements for non-citizens entering. You have no birth right to enter foreign countries either

We've had 10 private tests done by the same clinic, not the cheapest but by far not the most expensive. Each one was turned around quickly and without issue. No problems either when trying to use the certificates at the other end unlike some others who's results didn't show the time of same taken or some other problem.

Had a couple of NHS tests too and half of those came back as "inconclusive"

I won't say you get what you pay for, mine were at the cheaper end, but its worth ensuring you choose the right provider. Initially looked at a couple of other options, cheaper and more expensive and had no confidence that it would be anything more than a roll of the dice.

cubegame

Sandtree said:

cubegame said:

I would suggest that anyone booking travel and/or testing takes an equal amount of time to write to their MP to lodge their objection on the loss of our birth right to enter our country without restrictions.

You are talking about the PCR test to enter other countries... your MP is going to have no sway over what the government in Malta decide are their requirements for non-citizens entering. You have no birth right to enter foreign countries either

We've had 10 private tests done by the same clinic, not the cheapest but by far not the most expensive. Each one was turned around quickly and without issue. No problems either when trying to use the certificates at the other end unlike some others who's results didn't show the time of same taken or some other problem.

Had a couple of NHS tests too and half of those came back as "inconclusive"

I won't say you get what you pay for, mine were at the cheaper end, but its worth ensuring you choose the right provider. Initially looked at a couple of other options, cheaper and more expensive and had no confidence that it would be anything more than a roll of the dice.

You miss the point.

Incoming testing is unnecessary (see last year).

It puts an unneeded strain on an inadequate system which collapsed last year WITHOUT that strain.

Sandtree

cubegame said:

Sandtree said:

cubegame said:

I would suggest that anyone booking travel and/or testing takes an equal amount of time to write to their MP to lodge their objection on the loss of our birth right to enter our country without restrictions.

You are talking about the PCR test to enter other countries... your MP is going to have no sway over what the government in Malta decide are their requirements for non-citizens entering. You have no birth right to enter foreign countries either

We've had 10 private tests done by the same clinic, not the cheapest but by far not the most expensive. Each one was turned around quickly and without issue. No problems either when trying to use the certificates at the other end unlike some others who's results didn't show the time of same taken or some other problem.

Had a couple of NHS tests too and half of those came back as "inconclusive"

I won't say you get what you pay for, mine were at the cheaper end, but its worth ensuring you choose the right provider. Initially looked at a couple of other options, cheaper and more expensive and had no confidence that it would be anything more than a roll of the dice.

You miss the point.

Incoming testing is unnecessary (see last year).

It puts an unneeded strain on an inadequate system which collapsed last year WITHOUT that strain.

If you were talking about the incoming test, remembering also your comment of birthright to enter the UK, then there are a number of issues with your post:

1) The incoming test doesn't have to be PCR it can be the cheaper and quicker latflow that doesn't have to be sent to any lab

2) The quality of private testing in different countries varies 

3) Its not really a case of "your not supposed to use the NHS" but its clearly practically impossible to use the NHS given they don't have a branch in Egypt (or wherever you may be coming back from) and a self administered latflo test is never going to cut it given the result only lasts 30 minutes and don't give you the required certificate

I am guessing however what you are really talking about is the need for the PCR test after you have already exercised your birth right to come into the UK.

Personally speaking, I absolutely agree that those choosing to travel should be funding it themselves. Its really not that different to the Airport Charges Regulation 2011 where landing at Heathrow costs you circa £28 each (this one is hidden in your ticket fare).  The only bit I find odd is the fact there is a list of providers with wildly varying prices and it would have been simpler had it simply been a fixed fee. That said, it'd probably have meant one of Gove's or Hancock's mates/family would have gotten the contract. 

There is precedent of legally mandatory things being pushed to the private sector, just look at car insurance... you choose to have a car, you have to pay a private company to insure it. 

As to if there should be any tests at all... firstly, looks like the requirement will be going away in a little over a month if you're full vaccinated anyway but there is a clear correlation between those imposing border controls -v- the levels of in country infections. The test to enter the country only shows if you are infectious at that point and its possible to have just caught it and pass the test. Its also telling that the UK has the highest vaccination rate in europe but also the highest infection rate at the moment with an imported variant being considered to be to blame.

Ganga

Sandtree said:

cubegame said:

I would suggest that anyone booking travel and/or testing takes an equal amount of time to write to their MP to lodge their objection on the loss of our birth right to enter our country without restrictions.

You are talking about the PCR test to enter other countries... your MP is going to have no sway over what the government in Malta decide are their requirements for non-citizens entering. You have no birth right to enter foreign countries either

We've had 10 private tests done by the same clinic, not the cheapest but by far not the most expensive. Each one was turned around quickly and without issue. No problems either when trying to use the certificates at the other end unlike some others who's results didn't show the time of same taken or some other problem.

Had a couple of NHS tests too and half of those came back as "inconclusive"

I won't say you get what you pay for, mine were at the cheaper end, but its worth ensuring you choose the right provider. Initially looked at a couple of other options, cheaper and more expensive and had no confidence that it would be anything more than a roll of the dice.

Would you mind naming the company you used ,others might find it helpful when looking for a reliable company . 

Sandtree

Ganga said:
Would you mind naming the company you used ,others might find it helpful when looking for a reliable company . 

We used the Chelsea Bridge Clinic... at the time they were at the cheaper end of the spectrum but not the cheapest. Having looked just now (as do need to book more tests)  their prices have come down but no way near as much as others have so they're now at the higher end of the spectrum. 

They themselves are clearly resellers but firstly its a physical clinic I can go to if I want, its an existing business not something spun up to make money from Covid and important to us was that they actively managed the process so when our flight times were moved by the airline 2 days before leaving they contacted the lab and ensured everything was still going to be ok.

cubegame

As more and more countries look to be asking for PCR tests it is EVEN MORE important that anyone who wants to travel (and that is what this board is about) contacts their MP and makes as much noise as possible about REMOVING tests for returning travellers.

https://www.writetothem.com/

Travellers cannot afford the risk of the private PCR testing provision collapsing like it did last year.

awaw76

Conrtacting out PCR testing for day 2 and 8 as well as prior to flying out was just typical Government mismanagement - obsession with contracting out - so many of these companies are rubbish and remember once you purchase the kit there is no refunds even if they dont deliver the service.

The one success has been NHS vaccinations. 

awaw76

cubegame said:

As more and more countries look to be asking for PCR tests it is EVEN MORE important that anyone who wants to travel (and that is what this board is about) contacts their MP and makes as much noise as possible about REMOVING tests for returning travellers.

https://www.writetothem.com/

Travellers cannot afford the risk of the private PCR testing provision collapsing like it did last year.

By contracting out PCR testing the Government is washing its hands of the problem - they could have built up capacity themselves or managed it centrally but that means no contracts for mates I suppose - can't be having that.

In the end - nothing will change unless we do as a public. 

cubegame

awaw76 said:

Conrtacting out PCR testing for day 2 and 8 as well as prior to flying out was just typical Government mismanagement - obsession with contracting out - so many of these companies are rubbish and remember once you purchase the kit there is no refunds even if they dont deliver the service.

The one success has been NHS vaccinations. 

I'm a volunteer vaccinator. I can assure you the outward looking success of the vaccination scheme covers many many ills of an over-bureaucratic and badly run system.