The HfP chat thread – Saturday 15th May

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Yorkie Aid says:

15 May15 May 19:19

You do know who’s been in power for the last 11 years don’t you? NHS seems pretty fantastic to me.
- Yorkie Aid says:
  
  15 May15 May 19:20
  
  That was for bafan above
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  15 May15 May 19:31
  
  In spite of their years of under funding…
  
  There are plenty of great resources on the internet to see what’s changed over the past 20 years in the NHS.
- Super Secret Stuff says:
  
  15 May15 May 20:18
  
  The people at the NHS are great, the NHS itself is burning down from the outside inwards. Fuelled by the current goverment and probably would be a lot worse if the lib dems didn’t stop them for a few years
  - Matt says:
    
    15 May15 May 21:21
    
    There are >1 million of us working in the NHS – you think we’re all great? Even the ones covering up scandals? Running inadequate departments?
    
    It’s gradually collapsing in on itself because it’s not a very good way to run anything – it can be re-inflated with ever increasing amounts of money, but we’re in the situation where even constantly increasing the NHS budget is still shouted down as “cuts” – that should tell you something.
    
    It is possible to have healthcare free at the point of use without Matt Hancock running it all.
    - Mark Ingall says:
      
      15 May15 May 23:00
      
      The problem is that it is a national illness service and not a national health service. Until it manages this fundamental change in outlook it will be better than nothing at all but not as good as it might be.
- John says:
  
  15 May15 May 22:52
  
  Well we had a coalition up until 2015, so I’m not sure how that factors in. And more recently the people in power is drawn from a rotating selection of whoever’s got the PM’s number. At least, that’s my perception.
Cabal of rabid baboons says:

15 May15 May 19:25

Bafan will be fine , comrade Aston100 won’t be convinced but he’ll have to live with it?
- Aston100 says:
  
  15 May15 May 20:38
  
  Na zdorovie
  - Eppleby Green says:
    
    15 May15 May 22:20
    
    To health
Swifty says:

15 May15 May 19:35

Also has anyone actually gone abroad with using an nhs pcr test? Darling daughter had a v recent one in a hospital appt and want to know if I can use that result for malta in a days time. Also malta give you a free test on day 5, 48 hours before we fly back so I’m thinking I probably only need the 2 when we return. Any anecdotal evidence of heathrow term 5 gate keeping on these issues pls
- James Pleasant says:
  
  15 May15 May 20:25
  
  NHS PCR test is currently not accepted by airlines so you stand a high risk of being denied boarding.
  
  Malta test would need to be properly documented otherwise similar risk. Ie any of us could take a free NHS LF test and wave it at the check in staff, but there’s no documentation and you could have cheated, so no wonder it is not accepted.
  - Swifty says:
    
    15 May15 May 21:35
    
    Ah ok thanks. I see that many pharmacies do free lateral flow tests, wonder if we can use that. The gov website doesnt specify passport numbers etc, and just says lateral flow test
    - Tracey says:
      
      15 May15 May 21:55
      
      Pharmacies are a distribution point for the NHS lateral flow tests, I doubt they are doing supervised tests for free and even less likely to be putting your passport number on a certificate.
      That said, when leaving the country, it is the rules of your destination that count, so some countries may not require any testing at all.
    - James Pleasant says:
      
      15 May15 May 22:02
      
      Malta requires a negative PCR test, not LFT.
      
      I take it that you know you can’t travel to Malta as a tourist until June 1st?
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        15 May15 May 23:35
        
        Unless it’s an essential reason or you’re a citizen (family of citizen) or a resident ofcourse.
    - TGLoyalty says:
      
      15 May15 May 23:36
      
      Leaving it late to sort a PCR test!
- Gav says:
  
  15 May15 May 21:14
  
  As far as I am aware you need a certificate that shows name type of test taken and passport number etc on it and the NHS results do not provide this.
  
  I would imagine you would be refused travel if you presented an NHS test result email
  - Swifty says:
    
    16 May16 May 11:01
    
    Ok thanks
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  15 May15 May 23:39
  
  https://www.visitmalta.com/en/covid-19 Might be useful.
  - swifty says:
    
    16 May16 May 13:58
    
    Thanks. Have already checked it all out and we are good to go.
The uncivil servant says:

15 May15 May 20:57

My Sainsburys Nectar offers have landed.

Taste the difference Strawberries 120 points
Mushrooms closed cup white 50 points
Rocket salad 60 points
Semi skimmed Milk 40 points
Pitta Bread 30 points
Tinned Tomatoes 20 points
J James Unsmoked Bacon 50 points
Greengrocer Carrots 1 KG 30 Points
Broccoli 40 Points
- Harrier25 says:
  
  15 May15 May 21:06
  
  Thanks for letting me know 🙄
  - The uncivil servant says:
    
    15 May15 May 21:12
    
    My pleasure, I did forget to add the extra large Toberlone though.
    - Sean says:
      
      15 May15 May 21:35
      
      surely that’s an Aldi “special” not Sainsbury’s
    - John says:
      
      15 May15 May 22:49
      
      This is turning into quite an accidental Partridge part of the thread…
Wally1976 says:

15 May15 May 21:39

Apologies if this has been asked many times before on here…

We have a BA flight booking to Palermo for family of 4 in early August using Avios and a 2for1 voucher. It was booked early September 2020.

If, a little nearer the time it looks like Italy isn’t going to be on the green list, can we cancel for an FTV and use e FTV for another destination on the same dates (but without Avios availability)?
- Sean says:
  
  15 May15 May 21:48
  
  No. Only time you don’t need avios availability is if BA cancel.
  - Wally1976 says:
    
    15 May15 May 22:50
    
    Ah ok, thanks Sean. Shame!
Marco says:

15 May15 May 23:16

Overpaid my Virgin CC by £800… can I get a refund to my bank account?
- Degsy says:
  
  15 May15 May 23:27
  
  Or if you can, but £800 of Ernie (via Curve) then cash out in order to not lose the air miles
- Connor says:
  
  15 May15 May 23:51
  
  Yes, phone them.