stapleford centre

[kev50]

hi, please can anyone tell me when the stapleford is next open?? kev

[simon]

Google?

[kev50]

been there done that!

[OP8S]

On the subject of the Stapleford Centre, I wonder why there are not more medical centres like them for those wishing to be maintained on methadone or other substances ? In this climate of encouraged reductions & abstinence those that could afford them would be queing up outside their doors.

[usandthem]

They are good for maintenance but charge way over the odds and of course that's after you have tackled the ridiculous medical fees which private medical companies always charge. Also they ask you for a practical portfolio of your self including a complete medical history backed up with passports and other forms of ID. Of course troubled addicts have easy access to those types of things?! Also, not sure about delivery charges or e-prescription charges you would also incur unless you live near the surgery in London. Personally I would bite their hand off if they made it easier and cheaper to access.

[physeptomaton]

They are good for maintenance but charge way over the odds and of course that's after you have tackled the ridiculous medical fees which private medical companies always charge. Also they ask you for a practical portfolio of your self including a complete medical history backed up with passports and other forms of ID. Of course troubled addicts have easy access to those types of things?! Also, not sure about delivery charges or e-prescription charges you would also incur unless you live near the surgery in London. Personally I would bite their hand off if they made it easier and cheaper to access.

50 mile radius of London I think is their maximum. ID rules are unsurprising given the hefty scripts on offer.

[OP8S]

I have enquired before & they will do maintenance for SU's further afield but require you to visit regularily for the first 3 months anyway I think. Then it is yearly assesments ( more money ) + the cost of all your scripts. I just wondered if their was any reason why there were no other similar centres throughout the UK. I'm sure that there are plenty of users that would jump at the chance if they had the £££ available. That's why I enquired.

[froude]

Stapleford Centre £685 Assessment and 3 month implant ,After care more dollar
On going Maintenance programme weekly costs £28.50-£36.50 per week depending on prescription
Initial Medical Assessment £265,and to go back its another £155,thank god they are thinking of the user and not in it for the money,fucking stinks,nothing about aftercare.

Subetex Detox; is for 4 weeks of subetex detox and costs £360,no aftercare.

The inpatient 5 day detox ,you get to go to Portugal,why?,you dont see the place ,your on your back unconsious,shitting yourself,and its only £4060.00
Or you could take the Lithuania 5 day detox at a little bit less ,coming in at £3660.00.Who cares where you are,I wouldnt ,those 5 day detoxes with the implant aint that good ,so my mate said but he only stayed in the UK.Why do you have to go to Eastern Europe ,have they got a treatment they dont want to share or could it be about money me thinks,All the best Froude

[physeptomaton]

I have enquired before & they will do maintenance for SU's further afield but require you to visit regularily for the first 3 months anyway I think. Then it is yearly assesments ( more money ) + the cost of all your scripts. I just wondered if their was any reason why there were no other similar centres throughout the UK. I'm sure that there are plenty of users that would jump at the chance if they had the £££ available. That's why I enquired.

Initial assessment + meds+ yearly assessment= about £2000 a year. £6 a day, less than one bag of gear or rock. Problem for most users is that they require proof of legal income or savings so if you're grafting, on the game etc. you can't go there even if you are spending nearly £2000 a MONTH on illicit drugs!

[OP8S]

Is there any legal reasons why a consortium of GP's & other medically trained professionals couldn't set up their own clinic similar to the Stapleford though ? £6 a day is what somebody that smokes 20 tailor made cigarettes spends approx. & vastly cheaper than using even just a bag a day. I'm sure in most cities in the UK that there would be enough users who have legal earnings to make it viable.

[Jim]

I'm not trying to defend the stapleford centre but I'm not sure a GP consortium could provide it much cheaper.  Having talked to them their margins were quite tight and if you add up all their costs they are going to have to charge quite a lot if they want to earn even the same as they would in the NHS.  Naltrexone implants are very expensive just for the product.   My experience of people that have used the Stapleford has been that the crippling costs are what you have to pay the pharmacist for dispensing.

[physeptomaton]

I'm not trying to defend the stapleford centre but I'm not sure a GP consortium could provide it much cheaper.  Having talked to them their margins were quite tight and if you add up all their costs they are going to have to charge quite a lot if they want to earn even the same as they would in the NHS.  Naltrexone implants are very expensive just for the product.   My experience of people that have used the Stapleford has been that the crippling costs are what you have to pay the pharmacist for dispensing.

I know a stapleford client who asked about going onto oxycontin tablets instead of injecting, the doctor said OK in principle then he found that he would require 182 tablets a week at a cost of £400! That quickly put the kibosh on the oxy plan and he went for the more traditional physeptone amps instead.

[simon]

Is there any legal reasons why a consortium of GP's & other medically trained professionals couldn't set up their own clinic similar to the Stapleford though ? £6 a day is what somebody that smokes 20 tailor made cigarettes spends approx. & vastly cheaper than using even just a bag a day. I'm sure in most cities in the UK that there would be enough users who have legal earnings to make it viable.

I think it's a risky business doing such a thing and their are lots of easier ways to make money. I think even very experienced GP's would be reluctant to get in such a spotlight. I've been to coroners court many times sticking within the guidelines. It'd be a lot more scary outside usual guidelines.

[physeptomaton]

I think it's a risky business doing such a thing and their are lots of easier ways to make money. I think even very experienced GP's would be reluctant to get in such a spotlight. I've been to coroners court many times sticking within the guidelines. It'd be a lot more scary outside usual guidelines.

Yes. If you want a long, quiet, secure medical career, unfortunately doling out schedule 2 cds to longtime addicts for profit isn't one of the ways to that. Too many Harley Street psychiatrists before FTP committees, Tom Onen et al.- before you even think of what to say to a coroner outside of quoting guidelines and sticking to them.

[debs]

I have been a patient at stapleford centre years ago and i found the doctor very accommodating to my needs. However, giving a junkie whatever he/she asks for is not always a good idea. A couple of associates who i knew died while under treatment there but they were groin injectors and old timers. For maintenace treatment you have to have proof of income-benefit income is not acceptable or you could have a guarantor and you also have to live within a 50 mile radius. It costs a lot to get in but once had consultation prescription fees not too bad(depending on what you want) but you had to go every fortnight so quite a commitment if you dont live locally. They used to give out cyclimorph, dexies, benzos, meth concentrated amps quite generously and i'm sure they knew people sold some of their generous prescriptions to pay the fees. There was a scandal a few years back re: Dr Brewer and he was struck off as someone had died after a home detox so perhaps things have tightened up since.
I think for some people, particuarly those who cannot give up injecting, the staplefor centre has its place as the chance of getting amps on nhs is nil, certainly for new patients and i think you're very lucky to hold on to them even if you';ve been on them for years in this current climate.