BAIHA and now Ben Dover's negotiated service
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:00 pm
I'm writing this with the very best of intentions and I sincerely hope certain individuals will not get the wrong end of the stick. I'm not condemning anybody - far from it - I'm simply voicing some concerns.
I've been voicing my opinion on this whole 30 day thing from the outset - my views are well documented; namely that I'm fully in favour of it - the more frequently a test is administered, the better - but I have reservations as to how practical such a standard is under the current infrastructure.
Jason (JFT) and Jim (PhilMcC) have been instrumental in getting the ball rolling to address the infrastructure problem and then along came the situation in the US that has seen the wjhole thing take on a new urgency and really put the UK industry testing into perspective.
30day tests aren't going to prevent infections; daily testing isn't going to prevent infections - what it does is allow a lid to be put on the whole thing SOONER rathjer than later. It reduces the number of generations on the at risk list etc...
In my most recent correspondance with Jason I mentioned my concerns in respect of MOTIVES of the clinics getting involved in this. The high profile situation in America - which is attracting even broadsheet press coverage further fuels my concerns re motives.
The beauty of a clinic like Indigo is that THEIR MOTIVES are health orientated... Yes, there are financial aspects - but that is limited to the fact that they recognise that it is the NHS that would have to pick up the cost of infectious disease so it pays to be pro-active in prevention/limiting risk...
One of the problems we have in the UK is that there are so many clinics providing certificates - the whole thing is fragmented rather than under a single umbrella such is the case with AIM in the US.
I would ask what sort of service you get at the private clinics... do they check your vaccinations, offer Hep B boosters etc? Or do they simply perform the test, pocket the fee then issue the certificate?
Now - in the light of this high profile state of affairs - I am concerned that the private clinics are going to be motivated FIRST and FOREMOST by profit.
With this in mind I think it is essential that, rather than allowing numerous private clinics to "jump on the bandwagon", we STICK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE.
What Ben has negotiated is indeed a good thing - a pro-active thing; but I would personally prefer to see it done under collective auspices. And as Jason and Jim have already commenced work on BAIHA, I think it is best if we direct things through that organisation.
Remember - one of the greatest benefots of AIM is their database... all performers falling under that single umbrella.
We have an opportunity to create something similar here - I'd ask people to give it support and a chance to work.
As I said at the start - Ben - this is not criticism, I'd just like to give this organisation a chance to get off the ground.
I've been voicing my opinion on this whole 30 day thing from the outset - my views are well documented; namely that I'm fully in favour of it - the more frequently a test is administered, the better - but I have reservations as to how practical such a standard is under the current infrastructure.
Jason (JFT) and Jim (PhilMcC) have been instrumental in getting the ball rolling to address the infrastructure problem and then along came the situation in the US that has seen the wjhole thing take on a new urgency and really put the UK industry testing into perspective.
30day tests aren't going to prevent infections; daily testing isn't going to prevent infections - what it does is allow a lid to be put on the whole thing SOONER rathjer than later. It reduces the number of generations on the at risk list etc...
In my most recent correspondance with Jason I mentioned my concerns in respect of MOTIVES of the clinics getting involved in this. The high profile situation in America - which is attracting even broadsheet press coverage further fuels my concerns re motives.
The beauty of a clinic like Indigo is that THEIR MOTIVES are health orientated... Yes, there are financial aspects - but that is limited to the fact that they recognise that it is the NHS that would have to pick up the cost of infectious disease so it pays to be pro-active in prevention/limiting risk...
One of the problems we have in the UK is that there are so many clinics providing certificates - the whole thing is fragmented rather than under a single umbrella such is the case with AIM in the US.
I would ask what sort of service you get at the private clinics... do they check your vaccinations, offer Hep B boosters etc? Or do they simply perform the test, pocket the fee then issue the certificate?
Now - in the light of this high profile state of affairs - I am concerned that the private clinics are going to be motivated FIRST and FOREMOST by profit.
With this in mind I think it is essential that, rather than allowing numerous private clinics to "jump on the bandwagon", we STICK TOGETHER AS A COLLECTIVE.
What Ben has negotiated is indeed a good thing - a pro-active thing; but I would personally prefer to see it done under collective auspices. And as Jason and Jim have already commenced work on BAIHA, I think it is best if we direct things through that organisation.
Remember - one of the greatest benefots of AIM is their database... all performers falling under that single umbrella.
We have an opportunity to create something similar here - I'd ask people to give it support and a chance to work.
As I said at the start - Ben - this is not criticism, I'd just like to give this organisation a chance to get off the ground.