Online Ordering of COVID LFTs to Stop in November

[MickUK]

COVID 19 Lateral Flow test kits are to be collected from a community pharmacy if the pharmacy chooses to sign up for the service from November 6th.

From this date LFTs will no longer be available to order online or through the NHS 119 service.

[mrsjsmith]

Thank you Mick,

Just out of curiosity where did you see that ? Thought I must admit I am thinking of buying in future from a chemist because I have thrown some away because the liquid has started to dry and the more recent make are close to the use by date.

Colette

[MickUK in reply to mrsjsmith]

I saw it here on the Pharmaceutical Journal website:

pharmaceutical-journal.com/...

[mrsjsmith in reply to MickUK]

Thanks. Interesting it’s not mentioned on the NHS website.

[Ghounds in reply to mrsjsmith]

They probably don't want to encourage us to apply for free tests.

[RosettaClapp in reply to MickUK]

I haven't had an nhs letter recently! Has anyone else? Or are we being triaged as eligible and not dependant on some unknown criteria? My gp is quite confused by the coding system still and if its dependant on that I won't be included

[Aerobobcat in reply to mrsjsmith]

Hi Colette, same experience here with the liquid drying out.Regards

Aerobobcat

[Floxxy in reply to mrsjsmith]

It was on the Leukaemia Care website.

[Jetliz]

Thank you for that update hadn't heard about it but just ordered another kit on Gov.uk website while still eligible online.

[MickUK in reply to Jetliz]

Yes, so have I.

[Wroxham]

Thanks Mick. Hope you're keeping well.xxSue

[Aerobobcat]

At my last infusion I was told that I need to provide a negative COVID test for all future appointments. I've been trying to order from NHS site for the last few days, sadly without success.

Aerobobcat

[mrsjsmith in reply to Aerobobcat]

My hospital does a PCR test when I have an infusion and all staff and patients are expected to wear a mask.

Check you are saying the right thing with the NHS website. We don’t have symptoms but are eligible for treatment if we catch Covid. It can be confusing the wording. I ordered more yesterday.

Colette

[Aerobobcat in reply to mrsjsmith]

Hi again Colette, Yes I have been carful when ordering the test’s making it clear that I have CLL, it’s only on the last page it comes up with technical error.

As for covid testing the previous procedure at my hospital was to be tested 3 days before an appointment then isolate until the appointment day and also of course everyone wearing a mask etc.

Then they change this to only attending your appointment together with a negative test kit which they then noted and this is what they are returning to.

Aerobobcat

[Walkingtall62 in reply to Aerobobcat]

Oh my goodness I have never been asked to test before going to see specialist. I did in the early days

[Aerobobcat in reply to Walkingtall62]

As Colette says different hospitals and different systems, it just confuses the issue.

My regards

Aerobobcat

[mrsjsmith in reply to Aerobobcat]

Strange that different hospital trusts can operate such different systems.

Colette

[Aerobobcat in reply to mrsjsmith]

I agree nothing standard nowadays.

[Walkingtall62 in reply to mrsjsmith]

Yep, I always ask what their protocol is though

[MickUK in reply to Aerobobcat]

I have always had to take a negative test with me when seeing my consultant.

[Aerobobcat in reply to MickUK]

Hi MickUK, I’m not too fussed about having to test myself just so long as I can access free covid test kits. I will try again today and see if I have more luck this time.

My regards

Aerobobcat

[Fran57]

Thank you 😉

[Agfar]

I ordered a box of test LFTs a couple of weeks ago hoping the use by date would be later than those I got a few months ago but it was still use by Jan 2024 (same as a few months ago) which I was disappointed with.

[mrsjsmith in reply to Agfar]

I am going to order a box from a well known high street chemist and hopefully a longer use by date 🤞

[Walkingtall62 in reply to Agfar]

The hour glass on mine recently received is Jan 26. Phew

[Thursday45]

Thank you, that is important and useful to know. I didn’t realise that the liquid could dry out. I have two boxes of unused tests but they are probably out of date by now.

[mrsjsmith in reply to Thursday45]

You had better check, just in case.

[MickUK]

I ordered a box on Thursday and Royal Mail have told me it is being delivered this morning.

[Oleboyredw-uk]

This leads me to ask if the priority testing PCR testing service is continuing for us? I have a test kit sitting in my draw that's been there since it started and never been used, despite having had COVID twice. (The first time 111, and the shambles of a system, told me my symptoms were not bad enough to get the drug we could have. I asked for a second call back and still waiting for it, that was 22/12/22).

best to all, robin

[mrsjsmith in reply to Oleboyredw-uk]

As far as I know that has stopped but do check the expiry date on your test.

[MickUK]

The box that I ordered on Thursday arrived just now and the expiry date is March 24.

I have a theory that they are using all the short date ones up on the online requests and saving those with a longer expiry date for the chemist rollout.

[Aerobobcat]

Hi Mick and all members interested in covid free test kits. I have just managed to order the kits via the NHS 119 service. It was much easier doing it over the phone as opposed to the NHS website.

My regards to all

Aerobobcat

[MickUK in reply to Aerobobcat]

That's good. I'm glad you got sorted in the end. 👍

[Mtk1]

ordered mine yesterday evening and got them this morning, easy on Nhs website.