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Author Topic: Sex Workers Service in Paddington  (Read 20726 times)

SweetAngel

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #30 on: 26 February 2017, 02:36:16 pm »
I can't understand should I go on the second floor as I am visiting always the first floor but they don't know what I am doing. If its the first floor should i tell the reception that I am an escort or I just have to tell the doctors the true? I got bit confused?

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #31 on: 26 February 2017, 05:55:51 pm »
I can't understand should I go on the second floor as I am visiting always the first floor but they don't know what I am doing. If its the first floor should i tell the reception that I am an escort or I just have to tell the doctors the true? I got bit confused?

The way they work is if you have symptoms it's ground floor; if no symptoms first floor.

You don't need to tell them you're a sex worker, but I would. You see a special nurse and get all the tests, lots of questions etc. Remember you don't need to use your real name - they just need a name, phone number and DOB.
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #32 on: 10 April 2017, 04:05:37 pm »
There's been some changes in how to make an appointment here, and the 0203 312 1549 number is no longer valid.

You are redirected to call 0203 312 6626, which seems to be a general number. You're given five options, none of which is the Praed Street Project. I went for option 4, but can't remember now if that was the Winslow or Wharfside clinic! One is for people with follow-up appointments, I think; anyway, you can press * to go back to the main menu, and with option 4 I think I just got through to the main reception desk to make an appointment.

If anyone from PSP reads this - could you confirm that we can no longer book screening appointments through you??
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #33 on: 18 April 2017, 11:53:18 pm »
Went for a screen today, and got a leaflet about the changes at St Mary's - though TBH I found some of it unclear as to what's happening. If you used the PSP support services it might be worth having a look online. But...

To book a screen you can do it via a new number for the PSP or Working Men Project: 020 3312 6629
Or you can walk in or book online via the imperial.nhs.uk website
The Mint Wing Cottage drop in support service has gone
No more outreach support from PSP or WMP
Drop in, outreach and support services now being run by Turning Point charity
Jane or Laura from PSP can be contacted to explain about changes on 020 7851 2955 or 07760 615761

Separately, there's a new West London sexual health service from a group including Turning Point: http://www.turning-point.co.uk/news-and-events/news/new-sexual-health-service,-with-a-greater-focus-on-educational-and-employment-support,-launches-in-west-london.aspx
http://wellbeing.turning-point.co.uk/sexualhealth/
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

beccah282

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #34 on: 24 April 2017, 04:28:17 pm »
I went here when i was living in London.  Great service, quick and no questions asked.  Wish you would open a service in LA!

PraedstreetprojectNHS

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #35 on: 04 May 2017, 11:43:25 am »
Hi Everyone,
Really sorry for the delay in confirming the changes for Praed Street project. Sadly the drop in support, supplies and Outreach services have been moved and we are now based at 31 Wardour St, SOHO W1D 6PS. We are now under a new name SASH LONDON. You can reach us( Jane and Laura) on 02078512955/07760615761/0748333540. We would love to hear from you and we have a drop in here every Thursday 2-4.
For clinic appointments at the Jefferiss wing phone 02033126629/6626 or visit the hospital website www.imperial.nhs.uk/our-services/sexual-health-and-hiv
We have really valued working with you all for many years and hope we can continue from our new premises, thank you for all your contribution and support. :) :) :)
Warm wishes to everyone and hopefully see you soon
Jane and Laura
 

Londonergirl

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #36 on: 01 July 2017, 09:31:44 am »
Stupidly I went to the hospital before I read the updates. I went a few days ago, and the quality of the service has decreased considerably so i decided i will not go there again.
I should have listened to my instinct but i didnt. I tried the numbers given here to make an appointment but the phones are never picked up. Warning sign i ignored. Then i went online to book a slot, none was available for the whole of july. Thought strange, i tried to call again. Another warning sign i ignored. Anyways i went for a walk in.
I arrived 11:05am, had to get a ticket and wait, i wanted a full check as i had some itching which counts as symptom. This is different from the check&go as that one is for no symptoms. So i sat and was waiting to be called to the reception. I was called at 11:32! I got checked in and i was told to go to tha waiting room where my clinic number will be called. Okay. I was called at 13:47!! By this time i ate all the chocolates from the hidden places of my bag. As i gave my working details to the hospital and have used it for years, i even forgot some details i gave. The nurse who was trying to take my blood started questioning and i said you know, I am a working girl and some details i forgot what i gave but if thats my clinic number and my working name matches then thats me. She almost got shocked that i am not a normal woman, sha didnt say anything but her expression said it all. Then while she tried to find my vein she started questioning whether the job is good, if its lucrative.. i felt uncomfortable as even though the questions are no offensive she clearly didnot know anything about it and i felt unnormal, which i never experienced at this clinic before.
Then i met Sonia, another nurse who recognized me and said oh I know you, you used to see Nora before! I said yes. She was superb and no questions asked, aprt from how i was and she was genuinely caring. She said the service sadly has gone. Anyways, i got my result by 14:17, at which point i thought i could have done so much else with my time, i could nt believe they wasted i had to spend more then 3hrs for a simple check up.

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #37 on: 01 July 2017, 01:22:10 pm »
It is a big shame. I'm going to give them one more go, but then may try Dean St. My last visit was OK but for some reason she took two throat swabs, which was a bit of a nightmare for me.
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

HelenaB

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #38 on: 01 July 2017, 11:14:43 pm »
Stupidly I went to the hospital before I read the updates. I went a few days ago, and the quality of the service has decreased considerably so i decided i will not go there again.
I should have listened to my instinct but i didnt. I tried the numbers given here to make an appointment but the phones are never picked up. Warning sign i ignored. Then i went online to book a slot, none was available for the whole of july. Thought strange, i tried to call again. Another warning sign i ignored. Anyways i went for a walk in.
I arrived 11:05am, had to get a ticket and wait, i wanted a full check as i had some itching which counts as symptom. This is different from the check&go as that one is for no symptoms. So i sat and was waiting to be called to the reception. I was called at 11:32! I got checked in and i was told to go to tha waiting room where my clinic number will be called. Okay. I was called at 13:47!! By this time i ate all the chocolates from the hidden places of my bag. As i gave my working details to the hospital and have used it for years, i even forgot some details i gave. The nurse who was trying to take my blood started questioning and i said you know, I am a working girl and some details i forgot what i gave but if thats my clinic number and my working name matches then thats me. She almost got shocked that i am not a normal woman, sha didnt say anything but her expression said it all. Then while she tried to find my vein she started questioning whether the job is good, if its lucrative.. i felt uncomfortable as even though the questions are no offensive she clearly didnot know anything about it and i felt unnormal, which i never experienced at this clinic before.
Then i met Sonia, another nurse who recognized me and said oh I know you, you used to see Nora before! I said yes. She was superb and no questions asked, aprt from how i was and she was genuinely caring. She said the service sadly has gone. Anyways, i got my result by 14:17, at which point i thought i could have done so much else with my time, i could nt believe they wasted i had to spend more then 3hrs for a simple check up.

So sorry about your experience. I worry about this too, as I've had bad experiences in the past when I used the clinic for non-sex workers there. I'm trying to get an appointment with Nora, as I've had some symptoms. I sometimes get flashbacks during medical examinations so don't want to risk seeing a random. Can't get through at the moment though.
I know Dean Street is a self check up place, but does anyone know of a clinic in central London where you can get an std check done by doctors who understand sex workers?

amy

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #39 on: 01 July 2017, 11:44:57 pm »
I know Dean Street is a self check up place, but does anyone know of a clinic in central London where you can get an std check done by doctors who understand sex workers?

Dean Street Express (at 32 Dean Street) is self testing, but 56 Dean Street is still the main proper clinic with staff and that's where anybody with symptoms ought to be headed :).

Unfortunately SWISH have also been defunded so the Wednesday evening sex worker clinic isn't likely to be still running, but it's still a perfectly good place to get checked over. I do wish somebody from THT or the Praed St replacement place would post some up to date information - if I knew more I'd pass it on but that's it for now   :-\.

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #40 on: 02 July 2017, 03:35:26 am »
When I last went to St Mary's, a couple of weeks ago, the nurse said the Praed St Project had ended because it was a research project, and whoever was running it had stopped purchasing St Mary's services. I did wonder if that meant a similar scheme was now running elsewhere, but not that I'm aware of.

She also said that soon, all prescriptions for non-STI related conditions, like BV or thrush, would have to be paid for as part of cost cuts, as they're not relevant to public health (treatments for STIs will still be free).

The screening/testing should still be the same at St Mary's but it's lost that 'special touch'.
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

HelenaB

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #41 on: 02 July 2017, 04:03:21 am »
Dean Street Express (at 32 Dean Street) is self testing, but 56 Dean Street is still the main proper clinic with staff and that's where anybody with symptoms ought to be headed :).

Unfortunately SWISH have also been defunded so the Wednesday evening sex worker clinic isn't likely to be still running, but it's still a perfectly good place to get checked over. I do wish somebody from THT or the Praed St replacement place would post some up to date information - if I knew more I'd pass it on but that's it for now   :-\.

Oh that's good to know. I'll check out 56 Dean Street then. Thanks for the info  :)

HelenaB

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #42 on: 12 July 2017, 07:15:34 pm »
Hi everyone,

Just to say, I stopped by the new place at 31 Wardour Street on Thursday last week for their drop in. It was so lovely to see Jane and Laura again! I?ve missed them. They gave me some great advice about an ongoing work issue I?ve got and also phoned and emailed the people at St Mary?s so I could see someone I knew. So now I have an appointment with Agnes next week (phew!). Maybe this is the route to go, if people still want to go to St Mary?s, but want to see someone who understands sex workers.

The drop in is the same idea as before: nice and relaxed, catching up, tea and a chat or anything you want to discuss with them and get advice and support about, plus free condoms, lube and gloves.

Kay

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #43 on: 11 October 2017, 07:52:38 pm »
I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread on this, but I went to the Jefferiss Wing at St Mary's again today. In my first screen after the demise of PSP, in the summer, the nurse had all my paper notes with her, knew I was a sex worker, asked me the long list of questions etc.

They have changed the way the clinic works yet again. If you have symptoms you can make an appointment or walk in to the ground floor clinic. But if you have no symptoms, you cannot get a drop-in appointment any more - you have to book online. Slots open at 12pm on Friday. You only give your name and phone number - not your clinic number if you're a returnee.

I thought this was a little odd, and sure enough, today the nurse had none of my paper notes and didn't know I was a sex worker - just pulled up a few rudimentary details online. He did ask about domestic violence and offered my condoms, but that was about it.

On the plus side, booking an appointment was easy (although I wasn't seen for ~45 minutes) and the actual testing is the same, but I feel the service as a sex worker has gone downhill. I may look elsewhere, as as it is now, I might as well just go to my local GUM and not admit to being a sex worker.
"There is no sin except stupidity" - Oscar Wilde

Rosesugar

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Re: Sex Workers Service in Paddington
« Reply #44 on: 06 January 2018, 07:01:14 pm »
Hi everyone,

Just to say, I stopped by the new place at 31 Wardour Street on Thursday last week for their drop in. It was so lovely to see Jane and Laura again! I?ve missed them. They gave me some great advice about an ongoing work issue I?ve got and also phoned and emailed the people at St Mary?s so I could see someone I knew. So now I have an appointment with Agnes next week (phew!). Maybe this is the route to go, if people still want to go to St Mary?s, but want to see someone who understands sex workers.

The drop in is the same idea as before: nice and relaxed, catching up, tea and a chat or anything you want to discuss with them and get advice and support about, plus free condoms, lube and gloves.

Thankyou so much for the update Helena
In shall visit Feb this year , glad there is a new drop In to  go as I missed visiting praed st project .