P&O LATERAL FLOW -BEFORE YOU GO

[Denarius]

I have been following this thread with interest as I travel to join a cruise (not P&O) which requires a negative supervised lft on Saturday.

I suspect that a major problem is that many countries no longer require a negative covid test for entry, even for those not vaccinated. Italy (from where I sail) was the latest to remove the requirement yesterday. Cruise companies are bucking the trend but the number of people going on cruises only represents a small proportion of the travel market.  So demand has fallen to such an extent that some high street providers no longer find it cost effective to offer tests, which will increasingly become the province of specialist travel clinics. My travel agent was able to recommend one such clinic, but had I needed to rely on the high street I would have struggled.

[Fionboard]

3 minutes ago, Denarius said:

I have been following this thread with interest as I travel to join a cruise (not P&O) which requires a negative supervised lft on Saturday.

I suspect that a major problem is that many countries no longer require a negative covid test for entry, even for those not vaccinated. Italy (from where I sail) was the latest to remove the requirement yesterday. Cruise companies are bucking the trend but the number of people going on cruises only represents a small proportion of the travel market.  So demand has fallen to such an extent that some high street providers no longer find it cost effective to offer tests, which will increasingly become the province of specialist travel clinics. My travel agent was able to recommend one such clinic, but had I needed to rely on the high street I would have struggled.

Good point.

[drumbegjohn]

I thought I would try a Randox test before doing so at Southampton but unfortunately it was a void result so have no confidence in waiting to use this test the day before sailing. Will have to find somewhere in Southampton to do test there as we fly from Belfast the day before sailing!

[kalos]

6 minutes ago, drumbegjohn said:

I thought I would try a Randox test before doing so at Southampton but unfortunately it was a void result so have no confidence in waiting to use this test the day before sailing. Will have to find somewhere in Southampton to do test there as we fly from Belfast the day before sailing!

Hope this helps you 

 

 Dam Health (in person  or online)     https://dam-health.com/southampton/

[loveheart]

13 minutes ago, drumbegjohn said:

I thought I would try a Randox test before doing so at Southampton but unfortunately it was a void result so have no confidence in waiting to use this test the day before sailing. Will have to find somewhere in Southampton to do test there as we fly from Belfast the day before sailing!

We've ordered 2 extra tests just in case we have trouble with ours. Still cheaper than going to a chemist etc.

[Wiseyowl]

Has anyone downloaded the nhs travel pass recently? I have looked today and the format seems different. I can see it stating the expiry is now only if you print off. I am travelling beginning of july and am a little nervous about adhering to all the requirements correctly!

[davecttr]

6 minutes ago, Wiseyowl said:

Has anyone downloaded the nhs travel pass recently? I have looked today and the format seems different. I can see it stating the expiry is now only if you print off. I am travelling beginning of july and am a little nervous about adhering to all the requirements correctly!

Yes, the printed version only includes an expiry date but the date is now 180 days from when you requested it. Print a copy and you are good to go for ages 🙂

[Wiseyowl]

That’s helpful thank you. I read that electronically a new QR code is generated each time you access, if i then went in electronically again is my printed off version still valid or expired?

 

[davecttr]

3 hours ago, Wiseyowl said:

That’s helpful thank you. I read that electronically a new QR code is generated each time you access, if i then went in electronically again is my printed off version still valid or expired?

 

Good question, if you accesses the NHS again the new pdf would have a new 180 day expiry

[True Devonian]

Has anyone used DAM Health in Southampton for a pre-departure Covid test. I see from their website that they also do emergency appointments which could be booked at the last minute if our first option of Lloyds fails to deliver.

[grapau27]

36 minutes ago, True Devonian said:

Has anyone used DAM Health in Southampton for a pre-departure Covid test. I see from their website that they also do emergency appointments which could be booked at the last minute if our first option of Lloyds fails to deliver.

We saw them  in West Quay shopping centre last month but we didn't need to use them.

I briefly looked at the signs in the shop window and they seemed expensive and needed to be booked.

 

Edited June 4, 2022 by grapau27

[cruise saint]

On 6/1/2022 at 1:52 PM, lindylooellalouise said:

Hi all, have just managed to speak to someone at Lloyds pharmacy, they’ve cancelled 6 appointments I made for covid tests, I couldn’t understand that when I looked on the website the appointments were still available and could book them again, The person at Lloyds pharmacy has confirmed they don’t have the equipment or staff to be able to do these tests and the website shouldn’t let you book these appointments, so anyone who has appointments with this pharmacy please re check they are still available.

 

That is just ridiculous.  Lloyd's pharmacy are poor at a lot of stuff in my experience,  but failing to update a website is really poor.

[Josy1953]

15 hours ago, grapau27 said:

We saw them  in West Quay shopping centre last month but we didn't need to use them.

I briefly looked at the signs in the shop window and they seemed expensive and needed to be booked.

 

I booked with DAM Health locally yesterday for our next cruise and it was £22.49 each for the LFT which exactly the same as it was in March.  Can you remember how much it was in Southampton  ?

[MX-Drew]

11 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

I booked with DAM Health locally yesterday for our next cruise and it was £22.49 each for the LFT which exactly the same as it was in March.  Can you remember how much it was in Southampton  ?

Is that a supervised test?

[sleepingcat]

Test company used last weekend

In case it helps anyone with this issue, last weekend we had a visit from  members of our Rotary twinned club in France. Two of them needed test results to get back into France. We used this company who have facilities at several places (we went to Exeter airport, parking was free and it was quick and easy). Be sure to specify which test you want both when booking and when you turn up. LFT results within the hour, PCR next day text and email.  Very knowledgeable people at their call centre also, know all the rules. But not cheap,  from memory, LFT is £39.00 and PCR is £99.00.

 

https://www.gpdq.co.uk/covid-19-booking/exeter-airport/

[Josy1953]

8 minutes ago, MX-Drew said:

Is that a supervised test?

Yes, we go to the local DAM Health site and it is carried out by a nurse.

Edited June 5, 2022 by Josy1953

[MX-Drew]

1 minute ago, Josy1953 said:

Yes, we go to the local DAM Health dive and it is carried out by a nurse.

Thank you

[grapau27]

33 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

I booked with DAM Health locally yesterday for our next cruise and it was £22.49 each for the LFT which exactly the same as it was in March.  Can you remember how much it was in Southampton  ?

When we were down for our 2 night Anthem cruise in May we already had our test certificate from Lloyds in Sunderland which was £59.98 for us both.

In Southampton west Quay shopping centre it was the 

Regenerative Clinic.

Edited June 5, 2022 by grapau27

[kalos]

28 minutes ago, Josy1953 said:

I booked with DAM Health locally yesterday for our next cruise and it was £22.49 each for the LFT which exactly the same as it was in March.  Can you remember how much it was in Southampton  ?

Same Josy from what I can see        https://dam-health.com/southampton/

[lindylooellalouise]

2 hours ago, cruise saint said:

That is just ridiculous.  Lloyd's pharmacy are poor at a lot of stuff in my experience,  but failing to update a website is really poor.

Yes totally agree I’m still annoyed with Lloyds as we are still able to rebook the appointments they cancelled, someone could easily book an appointment then travel down to Southampton without checking their emails only to find out it’s been cancelled. It was so much easier for us when we did the drive through testing at the port our results were always ready before we parked the car.

[ShelaghL]

I'm booked with local Lloyds for a cruise in October (I like to plan ahead!).  Just checked the website and they are still offering tests at the one I've booked with, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays in June, July and August, but September and October they offer them every day - this looks ominous to me so will look for an alternative. 

[Fionboard]

Surprised Lloyd's has not been on Watchdog or Rip Off Britain considering the amount of people they have let down!

[Slugsta]

Deleted message as managed to sort out the issue.

Edited June 6, 2022 by Slugsta

[Chrish2]

On 6/3/2022 at 8:07 PM, drumbegjohn said:

I thought I would try a Randox test before doing so at Southampton but unfortunately it was a void result so have no confidence in waiting to use this test the day before sailing. Will have to find somewhere in Southampton to do test there as we fly from Belfast the day before sailing!

 

When I did a Randox test for fit to travel (picked up from local PayPoint location) it was simply a single FlowFlex with a sleeve on. I've personalty done plenty of the FlowFlex tests (they was the main type supplied to me in the post back when they where free) and not seen a void result. I guess for you it was bad luck.

[ShelaghL]

Our first LFT last year was void - we weren't doing it to travel fortunately.  Since then we have done several more and they have been fine, so we obviously did something wrong the first time.  I'm going to practice again before our cruise as we haven't done one for a while.  I still have some of the free NHS ones left to practice on!