Forum Topic

ONS Covid research

Is anybody else taking part in this research? I'd be interested to know how this is going for you. I've had two visits to date and on both I've agreed with the worker to be home by 3.00p.m. when they will visit. The 1st time the worker came 4 hrs later than he said he would and today it was near enough three hrs later. On both occasions I have, when the worker arrived, felt hurried. Today the worker wasn't wearing gloves as they are meant to (not that I rate the use of gloves against Covid highly) and today while waiting for me to carry out the test the worker smoked a cigarette. I can't say I've been overly impressed with the process to date.

Anne England ● 1313d10 Comments

Thanks for the link Guy and the article by and large reflects my experience to date. I feel discouraged by the lack of professionalism with which this study appears to be being carried out. I agreed to take part largely to (hopefully) be a part of something meaningful and my overall feeling at the moment is that the whole thing may prove to be a waste of time with, for example, people not having their samples taken in a timely fashion i.e. at weekly intervals for the first month etc. Then there is the cost of the whole caboodle. What a carry on.

Anne England ● 1311d

Yes, Iqvia it is. I didn't realise it is an American company. Obviously the casual attitude of the worker who comes to me is down to him alone but getting through to anybody at Iqvia to question this is not easy. I must wait until I get a call back, that's if I do.

Anne England ● 1311d

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-government-pilot-covid-19-infection-study-ppe-a9512596.htmlIt seems the testing is being carried out by an American private healthcare conglomerate - Iqvia. They are obviously keen to compete on every level with Serco, Capita, G4S, Maximus, Atos etc

Guy Lambert ● 1311d

Okay, thanks. I really am feeling very aggrieved about the way the study is being conducted - at least the part that this worker is playing in it. There is total disregard for the rules, his and my safety plus disrespect with regard to my time.While the financial incentive is a 'bonus', it is not the reason I agreed to take part. I freely gave blood for forty years until illness barred me from doing so.I feel a phone call coming on.

Anne England ● 1312d

Yes Oxford University. I enquired as I had read that tests we being sent overseas from testing sites to be tested as we didn't have the resources here. She said that Oxford had it's own facilities.Yes and I have agreed for the year but can stop at any time.

David Squire ● 1312d

Thank you for that. I'm very annoyed about being put in the position of not wanting to dob somebody in and yet feeling that I ought to.Apart from everything else I've said, there certainly isn't any box as you mention - just a handing over and handing back of the plastic bag. Mind you, a box wasn't mentioned in the literature I was sent either.Just to be sure - we are talking of the same research, aren't we? Mine is with the Office for National Statistics and Oxford University and you could agree to a one off test, five tests in one month or sixteen tests over a year.Thanks again.

Anne England ● 1312d

The Lady who has visited me is dressed in ; A face shield and a face mask.She also wears gloves and has a full length apron. Which fits over her full length Muslim hijab. which is an extra protection. My kit is in a closed box which she opens and I take out the test stuff. I put the bar code on the tube use the swab break it put it in the tube together with any packaging .Place in the box. which she closes and will see her next Tuesday .

David Squire ● 1312d

Well I think that I have ended up with somebody who is unable to organise his time, not to mention the rest. On Thursday I was phoned, had a brief conversation and agreed to be home for 3.00p.m. when I would be 'first on the list' in the area with two other people to be visited at Kew Bridge. Having dutifully returned home I was phoned more than an hour after the appointed time to be told that he was in Princes Risborough (?!) but that he would be with me for 5.00p.m.!! He came at 5.50p.m. The wait time of nearly three hours was at least an improvement on the previous week (same sort of scenario) when he was four hours late. The first week he wore gloves - the point of which I can't really see anyway (and I saw him opening and closing his car door with them on which is surely just the same as using his bare hands) but he wore no other PPE. I would be interested to know what PPE your visitor is wearing as the blurb we received does not specify. Should this worker be wearing gloves, mask or face protector and apron?On top of this I can say that after waiting all the time specified above for the worker that it is ME who has then felt rushed, not that I take an age about what is required of me. I have tried to ask why he has specified 3.00p.m. and then come so much later but I just seem to get brushed off with something along the lines of 'emergency', 'trying to please everybody' and so on. With regard to the latter, I can say that he is not pleasing me!I would not want to pull out of the research but am seriously considering doing so. Likewise, I would not like to lose somebody their job but is this how one would expect such a study to be conducted? Finally, after disappearing inside my house very briefly to take the swab, I looked out to see if I could see the workerand he was standing a little way along the pavement and smoking. He then came and took the bag with the specimen from me with bare hands.Apart from feeling quite angry about all of the above, I also feel confused and conflicted re what, if anything, to do about it.

Anne England ● 1312d

I've had two visits now both on time. The lady phones me the night before and ten minutes before she visit's . Cant complain I find it efficient. She stands out side wearing all the PPE. Hands me the test then minutes later I return this to her. No more than 5-6 minutes.

David Squire ● 1313d

On this site you certainly learn things. I did not know about this. No gloves and smoking! I am shocked. Thanks for this post, had to read it twice.

Nicholas Beard ● 1313d