I had an unordered pack of lft tests delivered yesterday. I just assumed there had been some hiccup in the system, as I’d ordered some last week, which had been safely delivered. But this morning I read an article on the BBC website about the changes to the rules regarding free lft and PCR tests (bbc.co.uk/news/health-60911... and read the following:
“The new rules say that from 1 April in England, free testing will be provided for:
Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care
People who are eligible for community Covid drug treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill if they become infected. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms, as well as being told how to reorder tests”
so I’m wondering if anyone else has received any? Other than the standard box of tests coming through my letterbox I’ve received nothing else so far.
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Angel_doll
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Yes - l much preferred the Nose Ones! And the people who l know who’ve had Covid recently have shown Positive on the Nose only Ones - so they must be pretty sensitive. Let’s hope we never have to put them to the test 💙
Hi, Angela, hope your doing ok .Yes your right my oh was negative with nose and throat ones, but positive with nose only ones at first. We both now have Covid after being so careful and following all the rules ! Our pack came through the other day, the nose ones our so much better.But both now show we have Covid! On the mend now thank goodness !
Sorry to hear you’ve both had Covid - it seems to be very prevalent at the moment! We did tests yesterday as we heard Emma’s Aunt had it & we’d seen her on Thursday 🤦🏻 however l was wearing a mask as Theo was recovering from Chicken Pox & l was still waiting on my Antibody Results - which were Positive 🙏🏼
Yes he normally has steroids for his breathing but can’t because it’s Covid so the Doc has given him an inhaler and told my daughter to ring an ambulance if needed
They are going down like 9Pins around us - we’ve just taken Lateral Flows as someone we know (sort of family - in-laws) have it & we saw them briefly last Thursday but l was wearing a mask 😷 so hopefully we’ll be OK. My cousin in Ireland has it & he’s not too bad at all 🙏🏼
Same here, saw grandson last Thurs day, he tested positive next day.....I was negative today...so presuming a week later it would show positive by now.....
I received one too. As I order them regularly I thought I had maybe forgotten that I had ordered one. I was surprised because the last few days when I have tried to order they have said none available
Me too. I'm not eligible because I didn't start pred until after my first two vaccinations. But I do get the anti-viral treatment and I got the unexpected LFT pack yesterday.
I’m glad you posted this. I now understand why I received three boxes last week. (One each for husband and me ordered before the end of the month.) I wonder if we will get further boxes periodically and if it means I will be invited for a spring booster. I was on about 9 mg pred at the time of my jabs last spring so just below the 10 mg threshold.
Yes, me too. Have also received PCR test with instructions to use if LFT shows positive and return in post as would be eligible for anti viral treatment. Have had all four jabs and am on 4 mgs pred. Hoping it is belts and braces but grateful to be on somebody's list.
Yes I received the PCR through the post last week and an email saying that I could order LFT tests which I did and received a pack a few days later. Since then I have received a further two packs which i did not order so now have plenty.
Yes, I received some too. Not that I’m ungrateful, but what us vulnerable folk really need is for the other people we have contact with to have tests, so they can test themselves before we meet with them. By the time we’re close enough to hand one to them, it’s a bit late!
How spooky I was just thinking about the pack I received without ordering and was gkimg to check in case I'd ordered and forgotten 🤣then read your post. So I know now that I'm not going totally mad 🤣Thanks for sharing 😁
I have also received an unexpected pack. last December I had received a PCR test but then had to use it as I caught Covid, so have been expecting a replacement , perhaps these will be the same as the PCR as these are throat and nose ones
Yes me too! No explanation with them. I already have a PCR test kit which they sent me because I am 'vulnerable' but they had explained why I had that one.
I didn’t get the LFTs but I got the PCR test kit. I don’t know what triggers this. Or who to contact. I imagine the Spring booster (5) will be patchy too. There have been cases at my live - in son’s workplace ( acute mental health crisis). He tests before each shift.
Hello SheffieldJane, since my plaintive posting I have had an email from NHS saying I will be getting a pack of LFTs by 12 April and to use them to trigger antiviral meds, should I succumb to Covid. So it seems I haven’t been forgotten!
Hi folks I just received an email telling me to use the lft test that have been sent to me if I get symptoms and report if I get a positive test. They will then contact me if I need extra care to stop me being very ill with it. I am sure you will all get an email or letter soon.
I have received a PCR test and a box of LFT over the past few days. Just received this via email:
Your medical records currently show you might be suitable for treatments if you get coronavirus.
You may have received a version of this letter before. It has been updated because the Government has changed the way you test for coronavirus. From 1 April you should check coronavirus symptoms using lateral flow tests, not a PCR test.
This letter explains that:
You should keep lateral flow tests at home
You should take a test if you have coronavirus symptoms. Important: You must report your test result.
If you test positive, the NHS will contact you about treatments.
Health experts have looked at the health conditions which put people at more risk from coronavirus. Those health conditions have been agreed by UK chief medical officers.
We are contacting you because your medical records currently show that you have one or more of these health conditions. This means that treatments might be suitable for you if a test confirms you have coronavirus.
These treatments can stop you from getting seriously ill and need to be given quickly after you start to have symptoms.
1. You should keep lateral flow tests at home
The UK Health Security Agency will send you one pack of lateral flow tests by 12 April. Only use them if you develop symptoms. If you run out, you can order more from gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra... or by calling 119.
You can use any lateral flow tests supplied by the Government. Tests bought from a shop cannot currently be registered via GOV.UK or 119 and you will not be contacted about treatment if you test positive using these tests.
If you were previously sent a PCR test you can keep it. You might be asked to take a PCR if you receive treatment from the NHS.
2. You should take a test if you have coronavirus symptoms
If you have coronavirus symptoms you should take a lateral flow test immediately, even if your symptoms are mild.
You must report your result at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or by calling 119. It’s important to provide your NHS number so you can be contacted.
If your test is negative but you still have symptoms, you should take another test on each of the next two days (three tests in total over three days).
3. If you test positive, the NHS will contact you about treatments
If any of your lateral flow tests are positive and you have reported the result, the NHS should contact you about treatment. If you are not contacted within 24 hours of your positive test, call your GP surgery, 111, or your specialist clinician (if you have one), who can make an urgent referral.
I received a pack last week and an email explaining about it a couple of days ago. It's if you are taking steroids, as you are also eligible for the new covid treatments.
I have received a PCR test too . I had also been trying to order some lateral flow tests online and they were out of stock . Then I found a box had been delivered . Are these special ones ? As it says in my email I can’t use ones got through a shop ! I have some left from other sources like the post office etc . Does the box I have received have a special code attached to only me so only I can use them ?
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
How confusing!!!
PMR, travelling abroad, emergency pack of Pred ( “ sick day rules”) in case of illness 
Flying / anxiety / stress / Insurance / Critically sick brother
