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Free covid test kits

Cinema proj
  • 3 replies
  • 36 subscribers
  • 399 views

Just heads up, if anyone is classed as vulnerable and usually orders Covid test kits by phone or online, this service ceased on 16th November.
The information on the App advises you can still collect these from pharmacies by providing details of eligibility, however, having tried most chemists around Penn, with no success, And 119 twice, it now appears they have no idea which chemists have " signed up" to this scheme.
I have contacted ICB and Healthwatch, Healthwatch advised I can pick up at chemist??
Any further information will be passed on ASAP. In the meantime, if anyone has more information, can we share please.

  • Hi ,

    Thanks for your question about where you can still source free covid tests.

    This is just a short message to let you know that your question was initially posted to our Ask a Work Support Adviser forum, and so I have moved it to our Ask a Nurse forum instead.

    Our Cancer Information Nurse Specialists are only able to answer questions on this forum from 8am on Monday, to 5pm on Friday, and so a Cancer Information Nurse Specialist will work on answering your question as soon as they can from Monday morning.

    If you'd like to speak to one of our team sooner than that, please call our Macmillan Support Line on freephone 0808 808 00 00. Our Support Line is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Once you are connected, please select the option to speak to one of our specialist nurses, and one of them will speak to you as soon as they become available.

    I hope that all makes sense, and that you are able to get the answers you need. If you need any help using our Community forums, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us in the Online Community Team. You’re welcome to send us an email at community@macmillan.org.uk, or you can send a private message to the Moderator account.

    All the best,
    Matthew
    Macmillan Online Community Team

  • in reply to Matthew - Macmillan

    Hi  

    Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. My name is Anne-Marie and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I can see you have joined the Non-Hodgkin lymphoma forum, I hope you find it a helpful place to visit.

    You’re correct the eligibility for free COVID testing in England has now changed. You are now only eligible for free rapid lateral flow tests from a pharmacy, if you would be eligible to have COVID-19 treatments.

    I can understand your concern about the availability of COVID tests, and it may be worth discussing with your haematology team your concerns regarding being unable to access COVID tests. You could ask if they can provide lateral flow tests and for them to clarify what you should do if you are feeling unwell or concerned you have COVID symptoms.  

     Find a pharmacy may help you contact more pharmacies to enquire about stocks of free rapid lateral flow tests.

    It may help to contact us by phone to discuss your concerns and see if we can support you in other ways.

     

    I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat or phone. The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm. You can also visit our Online Community, where you can talk to others who have been affected by cancer.

     

    Best wishes

    Anne-Marie

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

     

     

     

     

    Ref GJ

  • in reply to Anne Marie - Macmillan

    Since then, I have heard back from local ICB.

    They have found 4 pharmacies in my city that are currently signed up to the scheme. 

    It is a disgrace that a service should cease before ensuring advertised alternative is installed.

    If one has a family member to collect , the information they need to obtain a bicycle is as flows.

    Full Name 

    Address

    Hospital number

    Condition for eligibility.

    OK 

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