Which TOCs are currently conducting in cab trainee driver training?

[Stigy]

So do you actually volunteer with the Ambulance Service? You seem to know more about testing than me. I did not know that these lateral flow tests were less reliable but hopefully, they are producing more false positives rather than false negatives where the latter give a wrong indication of a positive result that otherwise goes undetected.

One thing I do know is that there seems to be a more of a blame culture now with various people blaming government, each other, etc, but as @ComUtoR says, certain local councils are being more proactive in tackling Covid 19 amongst asymptomatic people. These councils clearly recognise that the cost of such testing is lower than the cost of allowing Covid to go rife in the community.

Yes, I’m a Community First Responder for South Central Ambulance Service. Whilst technically I agree about it being better to have a false positive (right side failure ), it’s not ideal as you’d then have to get a PCR test done to definitively say whether you have Covid. This probably puts people off taking the test in the first place, especially testing yourself routinely when you are showing no symptoms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2021 ==

I know @Stigy personally, and it would be a surprise to me if he does, because he's never mentioned it

I don’t think there’s a “yawn” emoji available to use here....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2021 ==

Interesting, I knew that Stigy moved from SWR to GWR so I had him down as working at either Fratton or Reading. With a name like @tiptoptaff , I imagined you worked out of Cardiff, I used to study there many years ago, digressing somewhat.

I read that as “distressing somewhat”....which would fit

 

[DunfordBridge]

Yes, I’m a Community First Responder for South Central Ambulance Service. Whilst technically I agree about it being better to have a false positive (right side failure ), it’s not ideal as you’d then have to get a PCR test done to definitively say whether you have Covid. This probably puts people off taking the test in the first place, especially testing yourself routinely when you are showing no symptoms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2021 ==

Probably where people need to be educated on account of the number of asymptomatic spreaders.

I read that as “distressing somewhat”....which would fit

I enjoyed myself in Cardiff, although I did spend enough time there to experience a certain level of distress on the odd occasion. Portsmouth too was enjoyable.

 

[sw1ller]

I don’t trust these weekly tests at all. I was in a transition from the blood tests to the lateral flow tests, both of which came back negative. However, I felt awful so I went for a NHS test which came back positive. It floored me for a few days so I definitely had it, but I took more of the tests work sent me and they all came back negative.

Im still taking the tests as I want to help people get back to work and some kind of normality, but I just see them as a tick box exercise now.

 

[DunfordBridge]

Quite alarming in the sense that it is a false negative. Maybe it was the timing of the first tests or the route that the virus takes into the body in the early stages of infection.

 

[sw1ller]

I don’t know. But yes, very alarming indeed. It’s weird how 5 tests from work all came back negative, 3 before the nhs one and 2 after. Like you say, maybe it was just pure coincidence and the tests work fine, but I’m not convinced.

 

[DunfordBridge]

I think your experience is enough to cast doubt in my mind about the validity of those five tests and it is no wonder that certain operators have suspended in-cab training which is a debate in itself.

 

[221129]

I mean of course its more likely that 5 tests were wrong and the 1 was correct...

 

[sw1ller]

I mean of course its more likely that 5 tests were wrong and the 1 was correct...

It’s more likely that 5 do it your self test were wrong and 1 NHS one was correct yes. Coupled together with the fact I felt like absolute s***e.

 

[Stigy]

I mean of course its more likely that 5 tests were wrong and the 1 was correct...

Assuming these DIY tests were Lateral flow tests, then they definitely aren’t as accurate as a full PCR test. It’s entirely possible (although very unlucky) that five of them were incorrect and the PCR test was accurate.

 

[Timpg]

I’m a trainee driver for GA and I begin my pass out tomorrow, I had 6 months off, last year due to Covid restrictions etc, until these bubbles could be set up and agreed by aslef.
personally I think it’s a safer situation to be in a bubble with a DI, tested every week and temp checked before every shift. Than being a untested qualified driver, going to work in a busy jsop with drivers and guards coming and going throughout the day.
Myself and my DI had a constant mutual respect for each others health and abided by the rules of the various lockdown restrictions. It’s a system that has been as safe as can be and has worked for me and my DI, he is now starting with his next trainee and I will hopefully become qualified in the next few days.

 

[Stigy]

I’m a trainee driver for GA and I begin my pass out tomorrow, I had 6 months off, last year due to Covid restrictions etc, until these bubbles could be set up and agreed by aslef.
personally I think it’s a safer situation to be in a bubble with a DI, tested every week and temp checked before every shift. Than being a untested qualified driver, going to work in a busy jsop with drivers and guards coming and going throughout the day.
Myself and my DI had a constant mutual respect for each others health and abided by the rules of the various lockdown restrictions. It’s a system that has been as safe as can be and has worked for me and my DI, he is now starting with his next trainee and I will hopefully become qualified in the next few days.

Good luck with the passout! It’ll be a great feeling once it’s finally done!

 

[Timpg]

Good luck with the passout! It’ll be a great feeling once it’s finally done!

Cheers Stigy
It’s been a long journey but hopefully the end is in sight lol!!
wish you all the best mate

 

[DunfordBridge]

Found this MSN article to be of interest last night:

Lateral flow tests detect more than 37,000 asymptomatic Covid-19 cases

The article indicates that there are failings with this method of testing (lateral flow).

 

[DA1]

Just going back to this thread, has anyone’s situation at their TOC changed?

Trainee driver groups at mine are going back to classroom training with two tests a week after a couple weeks of online learning.

 

[vikingdriver]

Just going back to this thread, has anyone’s situation at their TOC changed?

Trainee driver groups at mine are going back to classroom training with two tests a week after a couple weeks of online learning.

Still no in cab training at SWR.

 

[Tiltdriver]

Avanti have also suspended all in cab training until further notice.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Still no in cab training at SWR.

Ditto at GWR

 

[craigybagel]

Just going back to this thread, has anyone’s situation at their TOC changed?

Trainee driver groups at mine are going back to classroom training with two tests a week after a couple weeks of online learning.

TfW in cab training restarts tomorrow.

 

[TheVicLine]

TPE are with training bubbles.