SA Covid testing in Stafford?

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
A member of the NextDoor site works in the testing centres. He said that the booking website only lets 3 lanes to be booked online. But they actually have 5 lanes operating. So walk-ins can also be accommodated . You just have to tell them that you are a walk-in when entering. He says might have to wait for a while if busy , but will get the test.
 

FooFighter

Well-Known Forumite
A member of the NextDoor site works in the testing centres. He said that the booking website only lets 3 lanes to be booked online. But they actually have 5 lanes operating. So walk-ins can also be accommodated . You just have to tell them that you are a walk-in when entering. He says might have to wait for a while if busy , but will get the test.
But site was only staffed for 3 lanes due to the 50% booking by the public.
 

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
I tried to get an appointment this last week and it was saying none available. :hmm:
Just had a look at test site. It said it was running slow but seemed same as usual to me. Apart from 1slot on Tuesday afternoon there was no slots available till Friday afternoon so hopefully take up is high, hopefully most will continue with regular testing once they’ve experienced how easy it is.
I’ll ask today at vaccination whether you can still have regular testing after jab.
P. S. There’s pop ups in Holmcroft, Rising Brook & Walton plus in some of the villages etc around.
 
Last edited:

FooFighter

Well-Known Forumite
when I tried a booking it said nothing available. Then I picked a location and it opened up.

Unsure what that was all about.
Absolutely got to agree that the site isn't the most user friendly.
we usually have 120 -140 people booked in per day.
Today we had 290 + 83 just turning up
we are staffed for the former.
15 minute break for lunch
 

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Absolutely got to agree that the site isn't the most user friendly.
we usually have 120 -140 people booked in per day.
Today we had 290 + 83 just turning up
we are staffed for the former.
15 minute break for lunch
Yes, you’ve got to pick your location first then it opens up the calendar. It’s not clear when you first use it especially on a smaller screen such as a phone & you have to scroll down a long way to be able to choose. The first couple of times I tried booking at the start I couldn’t get appointments purely because I didn’t scroll down. Once I’d used if correctly it’s simple & straightforward. There’s dozens of possible locations throughout the county so I suppose it makes sense to pick a location first.
As you say, it’s been available for weeks when hardly anyone seemed to want to use it, (I got a bit of stick originally for recommending EVERYONE to get regular tests), now everyone’s panicking & it’s getting overwhelmed & you & all the staff are doing a brilliant job.
Do you know if you can still use the service after having the jab? When booking in for previous tests they’ve asked if I’ve had the jab recently. (I had it yesterday but would still like the tests to make sure I’m not carrying it)
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
it’s been available for weeks when hardly anyone seemed to want to use it,
But is it that hardly anyone seemed to want to use it or hardly anyone seems to know anything about it ?
If I hadn't stumbled across this topic on this forum I would have absolutely no idea that "in the Stafford Borough. Everyone with or without symptoms should get tested".
If everyone with or without symptoms in Stafford Borough should get tested then surely a letter should have been sent to every household.
 

EasMid

Well-Known Forumite
Community testing for possible asymptomatic cases has been publicised on various media for a few months now. I first heard of it early in December.
The SA tests are specific to Stafford Borough but still part of the same testing regime. That part has only been advised for a week or so, maybe a letter will follow but it’s been mentioned several times on local tv & radio so far.
I’m firmly of the belief that everyone that comes into contact with others whether it’s through work or any other reason should get regular tests to reduce the spread & help speed up getting back to something like normal life.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Community testing for possible asymptomatic cases has been publicised on various media for a few months now. I first heard of it early in December.
The SA tests are specific to Stafford Borough but still part of the same testing regime. That part has only been advised for a week or so, maybe a letter will follow but it’s been mentioned several times on local tv & radio so far.
I’m firmly of the belief that everyone that comes into contact with others whether it’s through work or any other reason should get regular tests to reduce the spread & help speed up getting back to something like normal life.
Thanks but I don't watch local TV ( or any TV much ) or listen to local radio ( or any radio much ).
With never really going anywhere I doubt if there's much point in me getting tested.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I know someone who went and had a positive test result on Friday. They never really went anywhere either.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
I know someone who went and had a positive test result on Friday. They never really went anywhere either.
But "never really went anywhere" can be anything from going out of the house once a month for exercise in the country or a coronavirus jab to going shopping every week and seeing friends or relatives occasionally.
And do we know what proportion of positive test results are false positives ?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
But "never really went anywhere" can be anything from going out of the house once a month for exercise in the country or a coronavirus jab to going shopping every week and seeing friends or relatives occasionally.
And do we know what proportion of positive test results are false positives ?
False positives are a lot less frequent than false negatives.
 

cj1

Well-Known Forumite
LFT data from Liverpool suggest 58% of all positives are false and and of the actual positive test subjects only 77% return correctly positive. Because of how inaccurate these tests are you cannot have a LFT test if you are showing symptoms and if a LFT comes back positive you need to follow it up with a PCR test.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
LFT data from Liverpool suggest 58% of all positives are false and and of the actual positive test subjects only 77% return correctly positive. Because of how inaccurate these tests are you cannot have a LFT test if you are showing symptoms and if a LFT comes back positive you need to follow it up with a PCR test.
So about as accurate as me looking at the old piece of seaweed in my back pocket ?
And going for a test I'd be nearer more people than for months other than having the jab last week.
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
LFT data from Liverpool suggest 58% of all positives are false and and of the actual positive test subjects only 77% return correctly positive. Because of how inaccurate these tests are you cannot have a LFT test if you are showing symptoms and if a LFT comes back positive you need to follow it up with a PCR test.

There was an interesting aspect to the research I read that talked about the reliability of the test and who administered it, against self administered tests.

So trained professional is preferable to self administered.
 
Top