OK first time to a GUM clinic, was hoping to go to Dean Street or a major city/anonymous clinic but just have not had the opportunity, so Slough seemed close enough but not too close if you get my drift.
Plenty of info on the web, tried to book an appointment using the SMS system but always came back as full, on the waiting list, so abandoned that and just went along to the walk-in times…
The Garden clinic is tucked away at edge of the hospital, clearly sign-posted, parking is about £1 an hour (paid 2hr) … 10min walk from town Centre.
Arrived mid-morning and there was one person in the waiting room, has to complete a registration form provided at the front desk and sat down and waited… The form asks for name, address, mobile no, Drs Name, DOB surgery and some simple questions… I made it all up except the mobile number. Almost forgot the name I had put down…! Wasn't challenged on any of it but they did ask for the DOB at least thee times and verified the mobile number.
Waited 5 minutes with the others, 4 young girls and a middle aged bloke…
Nurse calls my name and we go back for an initial chat/questionnaire… Pretty little thing but totally not-judgemental.. Please list your last sexual partners, casual or reg, what’s their name and nationality. Umm that was interesting…. Maria/Hungarian, Unknown Thai transsexual and Sarah/Russian… She was running out of boxes at this point… don’t ask me any more. I’ll have to login to AW…
Took blood sample, gave me a registration card and then ushered me off for a urine sample and another waiting room for the counsellor… Counsellor was pretty informative and non-judgemental again, lots of straight talking about sex, risk and outcomes. Open to questions. Kind of an eye opener, as the mention of transsexual experience got him on the gay questioning… have you taken it up the arse…in the mouth. Yikes… no no no… Ok low risk good. Had a discussion about PEP anti-HIV and taking it up to 72hrs after a possible exposure to HIV. basically if you get a condom break with a high risk group… think he was talking about the transsexual here… but WGs also…if you want to be sure… 1 month of 2 pills a day… All free of course.
Finish with a Hep B jab and I’m on my way an hour later… Result, if positive, are SMSed within two weeks. Oddly I thought they would send a negative as well as a positive text result? But you can ring between 9.30-10am for the result yourself.
So, need to go back in 2-3 weeks if I want to get myself checked from the last WG because of incubation periods. Need to go back in 2 months for second Hep B jab… Otherwise not too painful an experience for an old codger. Would probably go back (just like an escort).
