Sandwiched between a shisha outlet and a Polish solarium, a modest shop on a Bradford street is on the frontline of Britain’s “government-approved” defences against new variants of Covid-19.
Expert Medicals’ posters boast that its “fit to fly” certificates, required for travel to most destinations, are the cheapest available at £100. The £160 it charges for two Covid-19 tests for people returning to the UK is the least of the more than 80 providers on a list by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
But clients have complained of long delays, missing kits, and calls and emails going unanswered. Expert Medicals has been ranked as “bad” by 71 of the 75 people who have reviewed it on Trustpilot, the consumer site.
At top of the DHSC’s alphabetical list was 001Doctor, which was removed was last week, apparently having become overwhelmed by orders. Several other companies have been severely criticised.
Concerns are mounting that the private testing network will not cope next month when foreign holidays become possible again under a three-tier “traffic light” system announced by the government on Friday.
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The travel industry has complained that the cost of UK tests — which can be more than £400 for a single trip — is excessive.
In many European countries they are cheaper, and in France they are free.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, vowed last week to “drive down the cost” and said providers could be removed from the list “if they’re not playing ball, because I don’t want to see people being ripped off”.
Two tests must be taken after entering the UK: one on or before the second day and one on or after the eighth.
In most cases, as with Expert Medicals and 001Doctor, kits are posted: you swab inside your nose and send the swab to a lab. This can cost much as £250. Attending a clinic in person costs up to £549, according to the DHSC list.
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After Sven Riedel, 46, from Worcester, returned from a business trip to Germany, Expert Medicals sent him a “fit to fly” test rather than the “2nd day” one he was meant to receive. He was unable to reach the company.
His “eighth day” kit arrived, but the results did not arrive until the 12th day — two days after his quarantine was meant to have ended.
Jelena Stephenson, 43, a carer who lives in London, received only one of the two tests from Expert Medicals on her return from Serbia. “I normally read the reviews before I choose anything,” she said, “but I didn’t think it was necessary because I trust the government.”
Rebecca Hopkins, 23, who works in public affairs, ordered a kit from 001Doctor before returning from France, but her first test did not arrive until day three, and the results took a further seven days.
The second test arrived after her quarantine period.
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Neither Expert Medicals nor 001Doctor responded to requests for comment. The DHSC said it monitors reports from the public and “takes action where appropriate”, including removal from its list, but could not comment on individual test providers.
