Where to get free COVID tests in UK ?

[FairweatherSailor]

I understand that those of us in the UK with CLL are eligible for free COVID tests available through local chemists. However I asked at my local pharmacy and was told that they do not participate in the scheme. I think that Boots possibly do but is a little further to travel. Does anyone know if there is a register of pharmacies that offer this ? Has anyone actually been able to get hold of the free tests ? Thank you Keith

[mrsjsmith]

Several days ago there were several replies to the same question by Richardmint. Sorry but I am not technical enough to give you a link.

Colette

[Pekingese]

Hi I got my free Covid test from boots, I took my CLL

Letter for prof and I had to fill in a form.

[Poodle2]

I think it was Newdawn that advised on this. Was it this link? To contact your local ICB? I saved the link but I'm not sure now if it is linked to the free covid tests.

nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-yo...

[MalcT]

I am using this link

gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra...

[teakbank12 in reply to MalcT]

Cannot order here any more.

Dave

[Amiable_Andrew in reply to teakbank12]

Use MalcT's link through a number of pages and enter postcode for list of chemists near you. The information is there.

[FairweatherSailor in reply to Amiable_Andrew]

I have just tried this and whilst it does give a list of pharmacies near me , they don't all offer the free COVID tests. The pharmacy in my local village is listed but when I asked them they said that they weren't participating ! I will try Boots !

[Wifey21 in reply to MalcT]

Unfortunately the Govt stopped providing free tests for those eligible in November. The advice is to get your free tests via your chemist who now provide them to those eligible. I asked at my local Boots & they were not aware of the scheme & said they hadn't been informed. I contacted Blood Cancer UK & they replied that unfortunately not all pharmacies appear to be participating & to ask around. This was in November.

I see here that someone obtained theirs from Boots so maybe the info has got through at last?

[Wifey21]

I asked at my local Boots in November but was told they weren't aware of the scheme. The advice from Blood Cancer UK is to ask around. Not satisfactory IMO.

[mrsjsmith in reply to Wifey21]

According to the NHS website they only stopped sending them out recently so you make have asked too soon. On another post others have had success with Boots.

Colette

[Wifey21 in reply to mrsjsmith]

That's good news. Will ask again

[mush56]

not been able to get them free but found cheapest place to buy them is Savers shops just over £5 for 5 or £1.35 each hope this helps

[RosettaClapp]

I rang around (we are truly rural!) most not participating, sadly but just one Boots and I took a letter from my haem team signed a book and got a couple of boxes.. Just before Christmas.. I shall be going back for some more soon

[FairweatherSailor]

Thanks for all the replies. I think that Boots may be the only option. I can only think that the reason that most pharmacies are not participating is that the government are not funding the scheme properly so it costs the pharmacies money , otherwise they would surely do it ? But then I guess that's no surprise from our current UK government.

[Fran57]

Hello. Yes, we managed to get free tests from our local pharmacy… I don’t know if we were just fortunate that they do them…

Good luck,

Fran 😉