gov.uk Reviews 4

Basically for over two weeks since the government , said that the lateral flow test kits would not be free from the 1st of April, I have not been able to order any lateral flow test kits to be delivered in our area, I am a carer for my adult disabled son who has learning disabilities, and also my husband they are both clinically extremely vulnerable, and no one can drive in our house for medical reasons, and even when I called 119 they tried as well and , they could not order any lateral flow test kits for me , but less than a mile up the road a friend managed to order some he lives in Bradley Stoke Bristol, and we live in Stoke Gifford Bristol, and we are all on universal credit, so will struggle to get the covid test kits once you have to pay for them, and I got up very early again this morning to try and order some lateral flow test kits, and if this keeps happening I will contact our local MP who is a friend of ours.no response back to me

Re-done due to non- editing of reviews allowed.
Extremely vulnerable website NHS shielding for mother who I am the primary carer for in regards to COVID19.

Banking and pharmacy my mother was fine as this was sorted by me re deliveries from her chemist and banking was done online.

Food shopping proved difficult.
GP informed my mother was high risk from COVID198 and needed to shield. She is now in her 5th week of shielding which is hard for her as she is very independent and likes to do her own thing.

We were wrongly told that my mother was not high priority when I know that she was. Twice in fact as I challenged the person that called my mother over this who told me that she wasn't and followed up with a text and a threat to formally complain.

Our GP then contacted to say she should not have said that and that my mother was high priority and as the NHS letter didn't come they added my mother to the data base. It appears many people who should not be getting the letter have had it and many who should have had it have not.

I also registered twice on the extremely vulnerable site and despite the fact she has severe asthma which is well controlled she was wrongly told she should not be on it. Severe Asthma and as such Respiratory illness is one of the key criteria for the scheme.

Anyway, I used the letter for shopping for food. Food Shopping has got better than it was before but I now tend to go early as my mother's representative in the Elderly/Vulnerable hour showing her letter and signed statement for me to go on her behalf.

Monday this week we then get a call from gov.uk. Was helpful and I asked them to register my mother with Waitrose and Tesco for priority online shopping. I had emailed the CEO's anyway and Tesco answered no joy from Waitrose despite us being regular customers.

We then received emails from Iceland and Tesco. We do not shop at Iceland and my mother and myself also have food allergies so it's important I buy fresh ingredients and cook our food from scratch which you cannot do at Iceland it's all prepared food and not for us.

Tesco despite being priority no slots and I have no intention of staying up until 2am in the morning as I like my sleep too much so will have to continue to shop twice a month when I can.

Scheme does not appear to be working very well. Left hand does not know the right hand is there or even what it's doing.

Normally the gov.uk website is good for those making claims for benefits, registering a birth or death and then in person , claiming a tax refund and or paying car tax. Or checking MOT et al.

Government really needs to have a review in to national emergencies in future and to learn to co-ordinate things better.
Luckily my mother remains well and fine and I have been careful by using goggles, disposable gloves which I am careful to remove and masks to protect me from people coughing in supermarkets who may well have COVID19. They may have astmas or a cough but you have no way of knowing. Some protection is better than none. I have learnt not to rely on the government for her well being or my own. She is lucky to have me as I am her.

Good. Accessible. Reliable.

Good informative website but notifying them of a problem bug on the site produced an arrogant generic response from their customer service team.