Brexit, for once some facts.

Danidl

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Just seen that a company which has long been offering blood tests to people across the UK has just stopped offering them to Northern Ireland. Not yet found out their reason - could be transport delays? or Irish Sea border issues?

Any ideas?
I have no information on this .. have you more information
 

oyster

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I have no information on this .. have you more information
Ah! The company do explain on their website - up to a point.

Services in Northern Ireland are temporarily paused while we carry out compliance procedures as a result of the UK leaving the EU. Find out more here.

https://medichecks.com/pages/service-status

Why can’t I purchase a test in Northern Ireland?

Hollie

7 days ago Updated

Following the UK's exit from the EU, there are a number of requirements that Medichecks needs to fulfill to ensure that we are compliant when offering our services in Northern Ireland.

We have already initiated our compliance process and we expect it to be completed in approximately 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately, this means that we need to temporarily pause our services in Northern Ireland.

As soon as the compliance process is complete, we will be offering our services in Northern Ireland again.

If you have already purchased a test with us and live in Northern Ireland, please get in touch with our customer care team on 03450 600 600 or by emailing customer.care@medichecks.com.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.


https://support.medichecks.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360019854557-Why-can-t-I-purchase-a-test-in-Northern-Ireland-
 
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Danidl

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Ah! The company do explain on their website - up to a point.

Services in Northern Ireland are temporarily paused while we carry out compliance procedures as a result of the UK leaving the EU. Find out more here.

https://medichecks.com/pages/service-status

Why can’t I purchase a test in Northern Ireland?

Hollie

7 days ago Updated

Following the UK's exit from the EU, there are a number of requirements that Medichecks needs to fulfill to ensure that we are compliant when offering our services in Northern Ireland.

We have already initiated our compliance process and we expect it to be completed in approximately 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately, this means that we need to temporarily pause our services in Northern Ireland.

As soon as the compliance process is complete, we will be offering our services in Northern Ireland again.

If you have already purchased a test with us and live in Northern Ireland, please get in touch with our customer care team on 03450 600 600 or by emailing customer.care@medichecks.com.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.


https://support.medichecks.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360019854557-Why-can-t-I-purchase-a-test-in-Northern-Ireland-
Thanks.. This is extremely odd. They are either importing something into NI ,or they are importing something into mainland UK. If the latter, it is a UK problem. If it is the former then what chemical is it?.
 
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oyster

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Thanks.. This is extremely odd. They are either importing something into NI ,or they are importing something into mainland UK. If the latter, it is a UK problem. If it is the former then what chemical is it?.
What they send out is a lancet, a vial - which might contain a tiny amount of EDTA or other substance to preserve the sample, an alcohol wipe, and packaging. Such things do need approval - that is, the postal people demand that it is an approved packing system so that their staff will not get infected by any spillage.

The person who receives the kit, stab their finger, squirts some blood into the vial and pops it in the post (using supplied packaging).

Several possible steps requiring standards be applied - but not at all clear whether they are required for GB to NI or NI to GB or both.

Other than the used lancet and some packaging and used wipe, everything gets returned.
 
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flecc

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Plans were to eventually scrap IHT but replace it with a gift tax on any amounts over £125k...but at a sliding scale of tax levels. Essentially lowering allowance to £125k...bringing almost everyone into IHT payments.???
IHT rates are already 40% (likely to become 41%?) raising extra revenue from IHT would mean targeting middle income families, a certain vote loser.
A good political party does the overall right thing for the country and its people. A bad political party does what gets it the most votes, regardless of right or wrong.
.
 

Danidl

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What they send out is a lancet, a vial - which might contain a tiny amount of EDTA or other substance to preserve the sample, an alcohol wipe, and packaging. Such things do need approval - that is, the postal people demand that it is an approved packing system so that their staff will not get infected by any spillage.

The person who receives the kit, stab their finger, squirts some blood into the vial and pops it in the post (using supplied packaging).

Several possible steps requiring standards be applied - but not at all clear whether they are required for GB to NI or NI to GB or both.

Other than the used lancet and some packaging and used wipe, everything gets returned.
It sounds to me that someone didn't do their homework. What you describe is more or less what I suspected. I cannot see the EU having any problem with the importation.
 

oyster

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It sounds to me that someone didn't do their homework. What you describe is more or less what I suspected. I cannot see the EU having any problem with the importation.
I can. If the lancet is UK approved but not EU approved - it wouldn't be acceptable for it to be sent to NI, would it?
 

Jesus H Christ

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I’ve just been talking to a friend who owns a micro-brewery which includes a bar & restaurant area.

This guy has had virtually no income for over a year, and the support he’s received hasn’t covered his expenses. He’s been living off his savings, which are now virtually depleted.

His business insurers have point-blank refused to pay any compensation for loss of business income due to the pandemic. He’s convinced they are liable and the legal advice he’s taken confirms this.

Here is the sickening aspect. The insurer has now sent him an invitation to renew his cover. They’ve increased the premium by 60% due to the Coronavirus pandemic!
 

oyster

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One pretty obvious policy doesn't a manifesto make - but definitely better than not having such a policy:

Labour and TUC call for ‘fire and rehire’ ban as part of new work vision
 

Danidl

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I’ve just been talking to a friend who owns a micro-brewery which includes a bar & restaurant area.

This guy has had virtually no income for over a year, and the support he’s received hasn’t covered his expenses. He’s been living off his savings, which are now virtually depleted.

His business insurers have point-blank refused to pay any compensation for loss of business income due to the pandemic. He’s convinced they are liable and the legal advice he’s taken confirms this.

Here is the sickening aspect. The insurer has now sent him an invitation to renew his cover. They’ve increased the premium by 60% due to the Coronavirus pandemic!
Whether he is entitled to compensation, can only be proven in court. Legal opinion is just that .... opinion. Now the cost of doing business by the insurer has gone up , not necessarily the amount of claims, but the depth of their resources , so they will of course be seeking to recoup this. Incidentally the major asset class of Insurance companies is real estate , and since these values have taken a hit , they don't want to be the ones going into liquidation.
What all these events show is that the half measures and denial practiced in most Western Countries was expensive waste of money. A tight heavily enforced quarantine early on would have paid dividends.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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Here is the sickening aspect. The insurer has now sent him an invitation to renew his cover. They’ve increased the premium by 60% due to the Coronavirus pandemic!
Sickening indeed. Their cop out of course is that the greatly increased premium is for Covid cover in the coming year, showing that it wasn't a covered item previously.

I have absolutely no belief in insurance due to the despicable conduct of most insurance companies. Therefore from my youngest years I have only insured two things. Use of my vehicle which I have to do in law, and the structure only of my own home, never the contents.

In all other respects I am my own insurer maintaining sufficient invested capital. This practice has paid off handsomely over the many decades and has saved me a small fortune in premiums which has become the invested capital.
.
 
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Danidl

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Sickening indeed. Their cop out of course is that the greatly increased premium is for Covid cover in the coming year, showing that it wasn't a covered item previously.

I have absolutely no belief in insurance due to the despicable conduct of most insurance companies. Therefore from my youngest years I have only insured two things. Use of my vehicle which I have to do in law, and the structure only of my own home, never the contents.

In all other respects I am my own insurer maintaining sufficient invested capital. This practice has paid off handsomely over the many decades and has saved me a small fortune in premiums which has become the invested capital.
.
Ditto... Insure the house, because one cannot afford the loss, insure the car, by law ..I do comprehensive, because the difference is negligible. I only ever insured one item ... My first flat panel TV.
 

Jesus H Christ

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Sickening indeed. Their cop out of course is that the greatly increased premium is for Covid cover in the coming year, showing that it wasn't a covered item previously.

I have absolutely no belief in insurance due to the despicable conduct of most insurance companies. Therefore from my youngest years I have only insured two things. Use of my vehicle which I have to do in law, and the structure only of my own home, never the contents.

In all other respects I am my own insurer maintaining sufficient invested capital. This practice has paid off handsomely over the many decades and has saved me a small fortune in premiums which has become the invested capital.
.
Totally agree. I do exactly the same with insurance.

People are paying stupid amounts of money for things like appliance insurance and pet insurance. Bonkers.
 
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Jesus H Christ

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Dec 31, 2020
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Ditto... Insure the house, because one cannot afford the loss, insure the car, by law ..I do comprehensive, because the difference is negligible. I only ever insured one item ... My first flat panel TV.
Get a CRT TV no one will nick it. Save a bundle on insurance.
 
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oyster

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Get a CRT TV no one will nick it. Save a bundle on insurance.
Get a CRT TV from Asda with their free three year warranty. And take it back a few days before three years is up because it no longer works.

Save cost of TV for three years and product insurance.

(It genuinely stopped working. No manipulation needed. Just as affordable flat screen machines came out...)
 
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Nev

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Large study shows just how effective the vaccines are at developing antibodies against Covid. After the first jab 96% of Britons had them, and after the second that figure went up to over 99%. The average age of the participants was 65 and all were tested for the antibodies prior to be given the jab, anyone who already had the antibodies was not included in the trial. More details here.
96% of Britons develop antibodies after one Covid jab, study finds | Coronavirus | The Guardian
 
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