Posts by John 110

Re: Architect Smartitect

When we had our microbiology lab refurbished I suggested (wearing my IT support hat) that we have plenty of network sockets installed, ideally a double every 18 inches. I knew that Computer Services didn't have node capacity for all those, but at least we'd have easily accessible structured cabling*.

As each socket added a couple of £ to the cost, the suggestion was ignored.

Three weeks after the lab re-opened, the suppliers of one of our analysers (that we had three of in two labs) insisted that we'd need another PC attached to the analyser for further interconnections. There were no node points. Three had to be run from the node cabinets at £300 per point. (by the time I retired, each of these analysers had a further PC added to facilitate it's connection to the MALDI-TOF -- yes, they need new points)

A year later we went paperless** each bench needed two additional PCs -- and node points.

*Diagnostic Micro labs have to work round specimen flow. Equipment has to be put where it's needed, not where it's conveniently adjacent to a node point.

**Diagnostic Bacteriology labs generate a lot of interim data before a result is arrived at. Paper is by far the most efficient way to achieve this, "but it's so 20th Century"

yeahbutt

"In Dundee, offshore oil rig workers have to wait in hotels for their helicopters to carry them to the oil rigs for their month long shifts."

I don't think that's true. Oil workers get their helicopters from Aberdeen. The hotels may be over-priced (I couldn't say, I have a rather nice room in my house...), but they're not oil-worker hotels.

Have you ever been to Dundee?

Re: At What Point...

How did that kool-aid taste?

--->labcoat with "I'm a microbiologist and I'm wearing a mask" on the back

Re: my early bird antics cost them over 40k

@alan brown

currency traders were at it like gangbusters...

currency traders were at it like gangsters.

There fixed that for you...

Re: He is very bright

My wife trained as a Secondary School teacher after her degree. She spent a year on how to teach and how to use the equipment she would be expected to use when she taught (science teacher, so complicated stuff).

I worked at a University Lab where this year's PhD students became next year's lecturers, without any teaching training other than what they remembered from being lectured at by the last lot (who had been trained "on the job" same as them...)

Re: Even Worse

Oh, did you know our infection control nurse? When she complained that her email "was full", the office manager solved the problem by emptying her trash folder. Cue screams of anguish and a sheepish call to Computer Services (who did restore the stuff, but kept it for a week without giving it back)

I'd like to think that IC nurse (who knew nothing) and office manager (who thought she knew everything) learned a lesson, but realistically I had to accept that they didn't.

"(all binary files should have a specification which mandates the use of a magic number)..."

What like AmigaOS back in the 80s...?

etc

"...Providing better working conditions for nurses, giving them the pay rise they deserve,..."

Providing better working conditions for nurses etc, giving them the pay rise they deserve,

Fixed that, by the way, I agree and also upvoted you.

[disclaimer: I worked in a lab for 48 years -- yes I am old, why?]

Re: "improve productivity in an organisation severely short of staff"

@Cederic

Two things stick out from your post.

First, it is impossible to run anything with just the specialist staff. The NHS NEEDS cleaners, porters, secretaries IT staff, Lab support workers etc. These are the lowest paid of the staff budget and either have a high turnover, or rely on the dedication and good will of the workers (which is not any less from ancillary staff than clinically facing staff)

Second, I agree about the cost of high-level administrators, but the sad truth is that good administrators cost money, and the best ones we had were wooed away to industry or other NHS Trusts for a higher salary than they were currently getting. The catchphrase is "if you want industry-quality administration, you have to pay industry salaries"

Everyone else (except Doctors, who opted out), are on standard payscales (used to be Agenda For Change, don't know what they are now.)

--> me putting on my Howie (https://www.workinstyle.com/howie-lab-coat.html) coat (in the days when I wore one...)

Re: I'm glad I'm not old enough

My first job (in 1971) was in a diagnostic Microbiology Lab, based in a University building basement. The edges of the benches all had little burn marks where the fags had been carefully left on the bench and burned down, yes, even the faeces bench...

One consultant Bacteriologist used to carry an ashtray into the lab with him.

--> Doctor Green smoking his pipe.

Re: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As an ex-labtech/it support guy for the NHS, I assumed the article meant Diagnostic Pathology Lab rather than a business.

If so (I'm making a lot of assumptions here, I know) then the regular report was probably the Cancer Registry.

If you work in NHS diagnostic pathology and someone asks for help with that particular report database, then you give it gladly...

Altruism rules OK!

Just a wee note to remind you that here North of the border, we voted to stay and got dragged out anyway...

(and don't even mention, "vote No to independance if you want to stay in the EU...)

Re: I hate DST.

The wallclock that I inherited from my granny (made in the Black Forest in the late 1800s apparently) is having difficulty connecting to the atomic clocks to do it's updating. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Re: Just being pedantic...

"Rab C. Nesbitt, is that ye?" should be :

Rab C. Nesbitt, is that yersel?

Re: "a multitude of fresh qualifications counted for naught"

"Why would you use a pipe like that?"

Because sometimes you have to use what THEY supply regardless of how crappy it is...

Re: Bargle nawdle zouss

"The Aldi-Lidl Islay malts are guid."

I must have got a duff one then. After finishing off the bottle (not in one sitting!!) I hated it so much that I didn't mind paying for a genuine Laphroaig to take the taste away.

I did get a nice and cheap 12 year old Islay malt from Tesco some years back, but that batch is long gone (rumoured to have been found in a warehouse and sold to Tesco) and their current cheapo Islay malt tastes like a cheapo Islay malt...

Re: Flake Ad

Thanks for the Flake ad, couldn't you find the bath one? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZ2ax2-O2A)

...the one with the "happy ending"...

Re: Example

"...with vastly expensive consequences."

And not just money, lives were lost/destroyed.