The Priority PCR SAGA: A Never Ending Story

[Harvist]

I have been ringing/mailing 119, my GP, my local CCG, NHS contact centre and my specialist for the whole of this week. Like everyone else has said, 119 people have been lovely, tried to find info but failed. My GP surgery manager has gone to extraordinary lengths to find out what on earth is going on after initially admitting they had not even begun to work on the problem.

Well......

Just now a phone call from my practice manager with the news that this morning she actually SPOKE to someone at NHS Central Command (my term.)

The reason we are not all getting the priority letter and PCR is because the system is being handled as a background digital process with no human involvement!

She said there is no way the process can be activated by GP request, we just need to ensure that we are "coded" on records as being in the appropriate group. This can be done by GP or specialist.

The advice?

Check your coding with GP,

order a standard home PCR from 119,

if you test positive IMMEDIATELY contact GP or 111 and ask for treatment URGENTLY.

You are ENTITLED to this.

Eventually we should all have the magic letter if the digital system creaks faster.

We can only hope the NHS IT system is more efficient than the one the government has running our Trident nuclear programme, which appears to still be running on Windows95.

[Pinkdark2018]

It never ends does it? I am in the same situation with emails to CCG, in contact with practice manager, MP ( for what it’s worth) and phoning 119. I have stalled at the special PCR but have guidance of what to do and will start back at 119 again to see if their answers have changed. I am being careful since my local infection rate continues to rise. Our patience is certainly being tested but at least with all the posts on here we are collectively pulling it all together. What a pity we can’t all be in the group that received everything without a fuss but knowing we are not alone helps a lot. One day…….

[Ghounds]

My GP surgery said it isn't up to them to make sure I have the correct coding! They are beyond incompetent.

My carer finally got a resolution today by contacting my nurse specialist who is organising the letter although not the priority pcr.

[Pinkdark2018 in reply to Ghounds]

Yes my CNS emailed me the letter but not the PCR..hence 119 with various responses.

[Sanders9]

Thanks. The question is what is the code?

[Harvist]

We're all different depending on treatment etc

[Poodle2]

Thanks, this is just ridiculous - everything we have to go through and dig out and be informed about...I am in the same situation, just going in circles...

Will try to call my specialist nurse.

Was in contact with another pupil who tested positive...

I have a feeling I will need the test soon.