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Hi Jason, lets draw this under one post, it was getting cumbersome under a variety of others. And rather than take this to email, I'd like to keep it on the board because it has relevance to all interested parties.

Now, I know you say I am repeating myself - which I am... The reason being, you are still essentially avoiding the question I am asking.

"What has brought about your sudden rush to a 30 day standard? IS IT BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY IS EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE OF INFECTIONS UNDER THE CURRENT 90 DAY STANDARD?"

If things are running fairly smooth at the moment why is there such a desperate rush to impose a new standard - a standard that I still feel cannot be catered for by the current establishment - nor can it be financially supported by the fees in the industry at present!

Only a month or so ago I read in the media that there was crisis in the medical establishment regarding sexual health and a massive under provision - what you are proposing is therefore well intentioned but ludicrous. You MUST get the infrastructure in place BEFORE you apply the new standard - can you not accept that?

Jack

So know where near you in Central England offer HIV & STD tests? Sorry I do not understand that, as there are performers all over the UK who do get tested, they all do not come to London. I think you need to contact your local NHS trust and they will tell you what hospital offer a clinic. If you require a letter stating it is for work, I am sure the production campnay booking you would do this.

There has not been a major increase in STD's but sometimes the number does increase, what we are looking to do is reduce this and also stop the spread when the EU opens up and new performers from Eastern Europe come in to the UK.

Also, we do not know how many female performer, doing only G/G shoots may be carring an STD as it does not always show in women, and if not treated can cause problems later in life for them.

Is that not good enough to bring the HIV & STD tests in every 30 days, to improve health and safety?

Jason - I have contacted my local GUM clinic and asked for a certificate - their response is a big fat ZERO. I can have the tests and they will be provided free of charge - and quite possibly as regularly as I require them(?)

They will NOT provide a certificate EVEN IF YOU OFFER TO PAY. I have told them it is for a requirement to work in the Adult Industry but it still receives a point blank refusal.

If you take a straw poll of thie country I think you will find that is the case for the VAST majority of the UK NHS trusts.

Jack

The simple reason that this has started is that back in Jan this year many production company's where asking for models for both B/G & G/G to have HIV tests under 30 days. I then wrote to TVX & TAC (23rd Jan as you can see on ) to ask if they would set this as a standard on all shows they purchased but that they include STD as well as this is the main problem.

Then in Feb, a group of performers sent an email out 11th Feb as you can see on saying "Some of us have already decided not to work with anyone unless they can provide a full screening within the month that they have worked." Then some more producers wanted to set a standard so we could reduce the problems of STD's in the industry and as the EU opens up on the 1st May, make sure that new STD's could not be brought in to the UK.

This has been driven from inside the industry, but needed one person to start to pull it all together, and as I thought it was a very good idea as the UK industry needs to been seen in a more professional light from inside and by the UK public I was happy to put my name to it and start the ball rolling.

I will be doing the best to make a 30 day HIV & STD cert standard of all B/G & G/G shoots.

You say the medical area has to be set up first, but they will not set anything up without a need for it. If we can create the need they will have to allow for the demand, and it will also bring good press to the UK Adult Industry which could allow greater changes in the laws thus allowing the industry to grow.

Jason

Jack

I would like to know there reason and the name of the clinic and then I can discuss this with the people from Indigo and see what pressure they can add if any to change this. Please email me the details.

Jason

hi jack yep you are absolutely right i can also get my tests done at the local hospital but they wont give me a certificate either even tho you say you will pay for it its a definate no no its bloody ridiculous but thats how it is so i have to go to the medicentres in london
regards marie-louisexxx

I can confirm what Jack is saying. Yesterday I contacted all listed NHS GUMS/STD clinics in my own & adjoining counties. (Strangely NO private clinics are listed) Informing all of them that it was for work within the adult film industry. All of them have at least a 4-6 week waiting list for an appointment. They will happily offer a full hiv/std screening. The results take 3 weeks to arrive.
I'm not a Maths genius but can you plan around that?
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY OF THEM PROVIDE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE.
So now what?
Off we trot to dear ole Lunnon Town!! Pays our money & get tested!

My clinic wont issue a certificate either, But it will confirm and show it to anyone I take down there. Sp a possible answer would be a responsible appointed person or persons could contact a number of clinics UK wide and explain the situation. If for example a girl goes to one of the agreed clinic someone could verify her test rtesults and a data base of who has and when could be done. or even a work cerificate issued by the adult industry..sound complex but it would work easier than most of the other suggestions. To explain better in laymans terms. I went down clinic had tests for everything I get to see the results on tues but they won't give me a copy. So as I have not had a shag in trhat week anyway you could pretty much 99% say I was clean...If you agree to this theory the rest is simple. I don't care about the paper as its about the test now every actress I know is happy to shag me unprotected because I am safe..I have asked them and I will get round to it this week......So if everyone could do the same Bingo...The only problem is in trust so someone would need to check the results with a person. Lying about someones test could be considered criminal and very serious the punishment could even be kneecaping or similar (well it would be if they lied about a test and I caught something.)
So 30 days are simple imediatly with a bit of trust and lets face it a child could copy a HIV Test paper right now.
As for the condom issue forget it You can get STD's in the mouth and I never in all my life seen an amatuer movie shot in UK with condom blow jobs. Thos I have in France and in USA.

Phil McC

Already we're getting somewhere.

I'd like to think that Jason has learned and accepted a little bit of the reality surrounding the difficulty many of us currently have regarding certificates as things stand at the moment. Perhaps (-Jason) you could approach Indigo and ask whwther there is any chance of expanding the service to several regional centres?

On top of that, Jason has confirmed that there isn't a noticeable problem in terms of industry infections and 90-day certs - therefore I still have to wonder why there is such a sudden rush to impose the 30-day standard by the 1st May...

Phil's idea has merit. Yes, it relies on TRUST - but that's how things stand at the moment anyway. None of us know for sure what our co-stars have been "getting up to" - but we take it on trust that they've protected the integrity of their certificate. So relying on the trust issue doesn't cause any great concern for me.

The problem with Phil's suggestion is that it doesn't address the increased workload on the overstretched medical establishment at the moment.

Jason - if you are in regular contact with Indigo over this matter, I wonder if you could ask them what impact this increased workload would have on their capacity - i.e, could they cope? As I said in a previous message - it wasn't many weeks ago that the media reported sexual health services were in crisis and at breaking point.

In response to Jason's comment that the medical establishment will only adapt if the demand is there - well, I'm not so sure that's wholly true - the demand can still be there but WILL THEY ADAPT? I think it is essential that the medical establishment are carried ALONG WITH US on this and not expected to play catch up.

As Cerbrus pointed out - if we're all going to travel to London and use MedExpress/Regents Park etc, etc. there is an incredible financial situation here - full STI screening incl HIV will set you back in excess of ?200 plus travel expenses - as someone who is used rather infrequently and given the recompense I receive - well, I just couldn't afford to continue.