Where to get a covid test referal at Christmas?

davo2001 · 24-12-2020 10:30pm #1

Hi,

My brother in law has tested positive 3 hours ago, I was in close contact with him 4 days ago.

The GP is closed for the next few days.

Is there anywhere I can ring to arrange a test for myself?

Stheno · 24-12-2020 10:31pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

My brother in law has tested positive 3 hours ago, I was in close contact with him 4 days ago.

The GP is closed for the next few days.

Is there anywhere I can ring to arrange a test for myself?

Out of hours doctor service

stopthevoting · 24-12-2020 10:38pm

Stheno wrote: »

Out of hours doctor service

If you don't know the details of your local out of hours service, you can find it by selecting your county here: https://www2.hse.ie/Apps/Services/GpOutOfHours.aspx

davo2001 · 24-12-2020 10:40pm

Cheers guys, I'll give them a call.

Merry Christmas.

Fann Linn · 24-12-2020 10:43pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Cheers guys, I'll give them a call.

Merry Christmas.

Some bloke on Twitter in a similar position. All test centres closed until Monday at earliest. Advice given to him was to isolate,

Bananaleaf · 24-12-2020 10:43pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

My brother in law has tested positive 3 hours ago, I was in close contact with him 4 days ago.

The GP is closed for the next few days.

Is there anywhere I can ring to arrange a test for myself?

So sorry to hear this - I hope you get sorted ASAP and that your result is negative.

zzdp · 24-12-2020 10:43pm

Stheno wrote:

Out of hours doctor service

davo2001 wrote:

Cheers guys, I'll give them a call.

Firstly relax, you are only a close contact if you had contact 48 hours before his first symptom

November Golf · 24-12-2020 10:44pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

My brother in law has tested positive 3 hours ago, I was in close contact with him 4 days ago.

The GP is closed for the next few days.

Is there anywhere I can ring to arrange a test for myself?

Has the contact tracing team contacted him? If so, they should contact you to arrange a test

cjyid · 24-12-2020 10:48pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Hi,

My brother in law has tested positive 3 hours ago, I was in close contact with him 4 days ago.

The GP is closed for the next few days.

Is there anywhere I can ring to arrange a test for myself?

Out of hours doctor or HSE maybe?

Test centres are open tomorrow anyway in Dublin.

Redjackie · 24-12-2020 11:07pm

cjyid wrote: »

Out of hours doctor or HSE maybe?

Test centres are open tomorrow anyway in Dublin.

When did your brother in law get symptoms and we can work out if you are a Close Contact?

davo2001 · 24-12-2020 11:13pm

Redjackie wrote: »

When did your brother in law get symptoms and we can work out if you are a Close Contact?

Symptoms from Saturday, didn't tell us, met him on Sunday.

Minier81 · 24-12-2020 11:15pm

GP and out of hours can only refer symptomatic patients. Test for contacts are arranged though hse contact tracing, you will get contacted and given a test only if deemed a close contact within a certain timeframe.

Jim_Hodge · 24-12-2020 11:17pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Symptoms from Saturday, didn't tell us, met him on Sunday.

Then he should tell the contact tracers and they'll arrange with you.

Minier81 · 24-12-2020 11:18pm

And if you are a close contact your 14 days isolation starts from the time of contact not the date of a test. So in effect getting the test sooner changes nothing. If you are a contact you will need to isolate for 14 days anyway, even if you get a test when it is not detected. So do self isolate.

The Continental Op · 24-12-2020 11:20pm

I called my doctor today because DFA want me to get a test in 5 days time because I'm back from the UK and the doctors receptionist said if they were closed to contact the "Caredoc".

Redjackie · 24-12-2020 11:24pm

Minier81 wrote: »

GP and out of hours can only refer symptomatic patients. Test for contacts are arranged though hse contact tracing, you will get contacted and given a test only if deemed a close contact within a certain timeframe.

Contact tracers are working tomorrow, Christmas Day. They will ring him & ask for names and numbers including you. Then they will text you/ring you tomorrow to set you up for a test. The test used to be one asap and another on Day 7. It is now one test on Day 5 (5 days since Sunday). U r due a test tomorrow but it will probably be Saturday now (unless you get a call tomorrow). You could check with him that he gave your details as a Close Contact & that sets the process in place.

sohappy · 25-12-2020 4:35pm

Waiting to be called for test,
anyone know if they are testing in limerick christmas day or stephens day? Or are they closed for christmas,

jams100 · 25-12-2020 4:40pm

Fann Linn wrote: »

Some bloke on Twitter in a similar position. All test centres closed until Monday at earliest. Advice given to him was to isolate,

Someone i know was offered a test for today so the test centres must still be open, anyway it would make no sense for them to close, im sure there running at a reduced capacity or something but they aren't closed.
The test centre in question is the Aviva stadium

Redjackie · 25-12-2020 4:44pm

sohappy wrote: »

Waiting to be called for test,
anyone know if they are testing in limerick christmas day or stephens day? Or are they closed for christmas,

I know that Contact Tracers & Swabbing Centres are working today & tomoro (St. Stephen’s Day) but don’t know about Limerick in particular. Did u get a text to book appointment?

sohappy · 25-12-2020 4:46pm

Redjackie wrote: »

I know that Contact Tracers & Swabbing Centres are working today & tomoro (St. Stephen’s Day) but don’t know about Limerick in particular. Did u get a text to book appointment?

No text yet,

MarkR · 25-12-2020 4:48pm

Redjackie wrote: »

I know that Contact Tracers & Swabbing Centres are working today & tomoro (St. Stephen’s Day) but don’t know about Limerick in particular. Did u get a text to book appointment?

https://rocdochealthcheck.ie/locations/

Could try the one in the airport

Minier81 · 25-12-2020 10:07pm

sohappy wrote: »

No text yet,

I would expect they all have a backlog after the big surge in cases in the last week :-(

martingriff · 25-12-2020 10:31pm

sohappy wrote: »

Waiting to be called for test,
anyone know if they are testing in limerick christmas day or stephens day? Or are they closed for christmas,

Was open today whatever about tomorrow

tuisginideach · 27-12-2020 11:32am

Where’s the Citywest covid test centre - is it in hotel/conference centre? Relation in question may have been given GPS coordinates but I have not seen actual text. Edited to add: Citywest is a drive thru facility in hotel carpark

Skuxx · 28-12-2020 3:10pm

Sorry to hijack the thread but didn't want to start another one.
I spoke to a doctor on Stephens Day morning (2 days ago now) and waa told I'd need to go for a test and the doctor would initiate the process. I haven't heard a thing since. No idea when my appointment might be. Is this normal? Has anyone else been waiting a similar time frame?

nommm · 28-12-2020 5:25pm

Skuxx wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but didn't want to start another one.
I spoke to a doctor on Stephens Day morning (2 days ago now) and waa told I'd need to go for a test and the doctor would initiate the process. I haven't heard a thing since. No idea when my appointment might be. Is this normal? Has anyone else been waiting a similar time frame?

I’d say they forgot to refer you. The text usually comes through pretty quickly and I’ve heard of people getting their appt quick in the last day or two. Call them again.

tuisginideach · 28-12-2020 7:17pm

Call made st Stephen’s morning. Was told it would take 5.5 hrs for return of assessment call. Call came after c3hrs, appt text came within half hour, test yesterday, result today. Very efficient thank God on this case.

Skuxx · 28-12-2020 7:55pm

nommm wrote: »

I’d say they forgot to refer you. The text usually comes through pretty quickly and I’ve heard of people getting their appt quick in the last day or two. Call them again.

I rang to check, they maintain that I was refered by them so its now out of their hands and with the HSE! Is there a number from the HSE I can contact?

Van.Bosch · 28-12-2020 7:59pm

Skuxx wrote: »

I rang to check, they maintain that I was refered by them so its now out of their hands and with the HSE! Is there a number from the HSE I can contact?

I had that issue in Sept, HSE said no referral but GP was able to provide the ref. HSE still said nothing they could do, got on to them on Twitter but same again, nothing they could do. Got the GP to refer me again and got referral text within minutes, seems like a glitch that cost me 2 days extra waiting.

Skuxx · 28-12-2020 8:09pm

Van.Bosch wrote: »

I had that issue in Sept, HSE said no referral but GP was able to provide the ref. HSE still said nothing they could do, got on to them on Twitter but same again, nothing they could do. Got the GP to refer me again and got referral text within minutes, seems like a glitch that cost me 2 days extra waiting.

Bit of a joke to be fair, I've tried to be responsible but as you say it's adding an additional 2/3 days waiting. Part of me thinks why bother perusing it anymore, the HSE clearly arent too concerned!

faceman · 28-12-2020 9:37pm

Minier81 wrote: »

And if you are a close contact your 14 days isolation starts from the time of contact not the date of a test. So in effect getting the test sooner changes nothing. If you are a contact you will need to isolate for 14 days anyway, even if you get a test when it is not detected. So do self isolate.

Ireland really needs to update that guidance, 14 days is excessive.

Skuxx · 29-12-2020 11:53am

Skuxx wrote: »

Bit of a joke to be fair, I've tried to be responsible but as you say it's adding an additional 2/3 days waiting. Part of me thinks why bother perusing it anymore, the HSE clearly arent too concerned!

So just to follow up, I confirmed with my GP again that they had sent the referral, which they did. So I then rang the HSE helpline and they informed me I won't receive a text with an appointment for 5 days after the GP referral. Does this sound normal?
Its the first I've heard of it!

Stheno · 29-12-2020 12:26pm

Skuxx wrote: »

So just to follow up, I confirmed with my GP again that they had sent the referral, which they did. So I then rang the HSE helpline and they informed me I won't receive a text with an appointment for 5 days after the GP referral. Does this sound normal?
Its the first I've heard of it!

Apparently there are delays in getting test at the moment

That still doesn't sound normal though and if its true that it takes five days to even get a test it will cause chaos

Skuxx · 29-12-2020 12:45pm

Stheno wrote: »

Apparently there are delays in getting test at the moment

That still doesn't sound normal though and if its true that it takes five days to even get a test it will cause chaos

HSE Twitter account confirmed all tests should be booked within 24 hours, I've no idea where the 5 days came from.
Anyway, the saga continues! I'll get tested eventually. Just glad I'm not rushing to try and get back to work!

Stheno · 29-12-2020 12:48pm

Skuxx wrote: »

HSE Twitter account confirmed all tests should be booked within 24 hours, I've no idea where the 5 days came from.
Anyway, the saga continues! I'll get tested eventually. Just glad I'm not rushing to try and get back to work!

I was just reading an article in the Irish times where the head of the Gp college said they are trying to schedule tests five days after the request.

Were you a close contact?

We have people ringing up looking to be tested. Timing is important, we can’t do it too soon, we try to schedule it around Day 5.

“We want people to stay home and wait for the contact tracers to call them,” she said.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/big-rise-in-covid-19-cases-expected-due-to-pre-christmas-socialising-1.4446936?mode=amp

The Continental Op · 29-12-2020 12:52pm

Stheno wrote: »

I was just reading an article in the Irish times where the head of the Gp college said they are trying to schedule tests five days after the request.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/big-rise-in-covid-19-cases-expected-due-to-pre-christmas-socialising-1.4446936?mode=amp

I've just phoned the GP now for a referral after being back in from the UK almost 6 days, I'm isolating so if the test takes another 5 days then thats 11 I'll have been isolating making the test a waste of time.

Skuxx · 29-12-2020 1:03pm

Stheno wrote: »

I was just reading an article in the Irish times where the head of the Gp college said they are trying to schedule tests five days after the request.

Were you a close contact?

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/big-rise-in-covid-19-cases-expected-due-to-pre-christmas-socialising-1.4446936?mode=amp

For close contacts yes, I had seen that alright. I had symptoms however and wasn't a close contact which I clearly explained to the HSE helpline worker

normanoffside · 29-12-2020 5:42pm

Skuxx wrote: »

HSE Twitter account confirmed all tests should be booked within 24 hours, I've no idea where the 5 days came from.
Anyway, the saga continues! I'll get tested eventually. Just glad I'm not rushing to try and get back to work!

Apparently since Dec 23rd the new system for Close contacts is 1 single test on day 5 (used to be 1 test on Day 0 and another one on Day 7)

https://twitter.com/higginsdavidw/status/1343957537532628993

Looks like your GP may have marked you down as a close contact?

giveitholly · 31-12-2020 10:17am

Any idea what roughly is the turnaround time from getting a test to getting your results?

ax530 · 31-12-2020 10:22am

The Continental Op wrote: »

I've just phoned the GP now for a referral after being back in the UK almost 6 days, I'm isolating so if the test takes another 5 days then thats 11 I'll have been isolating making the test a waste of time.

return from travel test is not arranged by GP you must book a private test (aiport, boots) these cost about €100

ax530 · 31-12-2020 10:23am

giveitholly wrote: »

Any idea what roughly is the turnaround time from getting a test to getting your results?

know someone tested on the 27th results on 28th

The Continental Op · 31-12-2020 11:14am

ax530 wrote: »

return from travel test is not arranged by GP you must book a private test (aiport, boots) these cost about €100

Sorry should have said back from the UK.

Test is free as it was requested by the DFA.

normanoffside · 31-12-2020 11:48am

ax530 wrote: »

return from travel test is not arranged by GP you must book a private test (aiport, boots) these cost about €100

It is if you’re back from the UK.

davo2001 · 31-12-2020 1:01pm

giveitholly wrote: »

Any idea what roughly is the turnaround time from getting a test to getting your results?

5 people including myself got tested a few days ago, ranged from 20 - 30 hours for everyone to get their results.

Tipptatlers · 31-12-2020 2:20pm

giveitholly wrote: »

Any idea what roughly is the turnaround time from getting a test to getting your results?

Went for a private test which took 30 hours and a HSE test which came back in 24 hours. Both giving me a positive for the detection of COVID.

eastie17 · 05-01-2021 9:57am

Tipptatlers wrote: »

Went for a private test which took 30 hours and a HSE test which came back in 24 hours. Both giving me a positive for the detection of COVID.

Has this slowed down since then does anyone know? Scheduled for a test today, doc said it may take 4 to 5 days for results due to numbers being tested.
Test appointment was arranged very quickly, there used to be a thread on people saying the time between test and results in their area but can’t find it

xhomelezz · 05-01-2021 10:16am

eastie17 wrote: »

Has this slowed down since then does anyone know? Scheduled for a test today, doc said it may take 4 to 5 days for results due to numbers being tested.
Test appointment was arranged very quickly, there used to be a thread on people saying the time between test and results in their area but can’t find it

Think you looking for this one

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058062806/180

headtheball14 · 05-01-2021 12:18pm

It seems like it may be an issue with the referral of you haven't heard within a day about test referral.

There are a number of options that may cause delays such as if you need an ambulance to travel to you to take the test if you can't travel to the test centre etc. I would ask the gp to refer you again . Then if not ring another GP.

You should have your referral usually within a day and test pretty soon after. Results are usually back within about 2 days .

Data on this is published here
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/integrated-information-service-testing-and-contact-tracing-dashboard.html

The Continental Op · 05-01-2021 12:46pm

headtheball14 wrote: »

It seems like it may be an issue with the referral. There are a number of options that may cause delays such as if you need an ambulance to travel to you to take the test if you can't travel to the test centre etc. I would ask the gp to refer you again . Then if not ring another GP. You should have your referral usually within a day and test pretty soon after.

Mine was 4 days (called Dr on Wednesday) and had the call on Sunday for test Monday morning so fairly recent.

Dr asked me if I had symptoms and I said no (DFA requested I tested after travelling back to Ireland) so I suspect saying no put me at the bottom of the list for testing.

tuisginideach · 05-01-2021 12:55pm

eastie17 wrote: »

Has this slowed down since then does anyone know? Scheduled for a test today, doc said it may take 4 to 5 days for results due to numbers being tested.
Test appointment was arranged very quickly, there used to be a thread on people saying the time between test and results in their area but can’t find it

Friend had private test yesterday 4.30pm, result this morning before 9.30am

Where to get a covid test referal at Christmas?

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