Worried patients are refused tests

PATIENTS who call the NHS on 111 are only being offered a coronavirus test if they have visited one of worst affected countries or been in contact with an infected individual.

Health officials said they were aiming to test those at highest risk of having the virus rather than the ‘worried well’ with an ordinary cold. But the strict protocol will raise concerns that infected patients are going undetected, left to spread the disease.

One retired intensive care doctor said he had friends who were repeatedly refused tests earlier this month after developing severe flu-like symptoms following a ski trip.

The group had been to the Ischgl resort in Austria, which is not currently on NHS 111’s list of high-risk countries – although some nations consider it a risk area.

The 55 year-year- old, who gave his name only as Andrew, told the Guardian: ‘These people are saying they are as ill as they’ve ever been, and they still can’t do a test.’ He added that he had also ‘never been so ill’ and had hoped to be tested. The NHS yesterday announced it would start to test 10,000 people a day – up from 1,500. But patients are only offered a test if they have been to ‘high risk’ countries including China, Iran, South Korea or Italy, or have knowingly come into contact with an infected individual.

Sam Freedman, chief executive of the international, non-profit Education Partnerships Group, said the system had a ‘major flaw.’

He added on Twitter: ‘ Unfortunately I have a cough and a fever. Turns out I can’t get a test because I haven’t been to any affected countries or come into contact with a known case. Even though I have been through an airport and to a concert.’

Another patient, Sam Butler, tweeted: ‘I’ve got the worst flu I’ve ever had (despite flu jab)... It fits the description of COVID exactly, but NHS 111 says it isn’t, because I haven’t been abroad.’

A spokesman for Public Health England said they are testing people with symptoms who are ‘most likely’ to be infected.