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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fax machine - yes or no

111 replies

TheSnowFairy · 30/10/2017 17:40

I don't use a fax machine, ever. There isn't one at work either.

My Dr has just asked me to fax over my request for a repeat prescription Confused Seemed surprised I didn't have easy access to fax.

So, do you ever use a fax machine - yay or nay?

OP posts:
Slinkymalinky1 · 31/10/2017 00:50

Yep, NHS use fax daily Grin we are slowly moving on with NHS email, but a panic ensues each time it is requested Hmm

NetworkGuy · 31/10/2017 03:42

"Our landline is 1 digit different to the number they want."

You've just reminded me of the time I had a fax number close to some branch of NatWest.

I used to get pages intended for NatWest about BACS payments of salaries at the end of the month... Obviously a wrong number, and the SENDERs should have looked for the confirmation slip to confirm it went to NatWest...

I had endless fun (I'm kidding) trying to be put through to "Jenny in Accounts" when I had not business with the firm. I told the people that "Jenny will be happy to hear from me" because I didn't want to explain that their pay might not have got to them on time because Jenny made a mistake. Some staff were far more gracious than others when they understood the mistake (by one digit) they had made.

A few were gushing with thanks, but some seemed downright frosty and ungrateful that I was trying to help them fix things, so no-one else would ever know... I never made a "blacklist" of people I would ignore for a second mistake, but only because many other innocent people may have been massively inconvenienced by not getting paid !

Etymology23 · 31/10/2017 04:42

I have been faxed things and had to fax things. In reality I have had no idea how to do this, nor been in the office and therefore anywhere near a fax machine at any time when I've needed to fax things so have asked one of the secretaries to do it for me instead. (Prof services, though my solicitor when buying a house also kept wanting me to scan or post things.)

LurkingHusband · 31/10/2017 06:51

The point of a fax is that the transmission is 'secure' as it will only work from 1 machine to another in real time. You can't copy or store it.

Er, you are aware that last is ....putting it charitably .... wrong ?

Therealslimshady1 · 31/10/2017 06:54

The poor NHS does think.it is 1992....remember they were hacked as they used a Windows operating system.from over 10 yrs ago...

RavingRoo · 31/10/2017 06:57

Work in financial services - we use fax via email for high risk data.

Lollyb86 · 31/10/2017 06:58

I work in a hospice and we fax as well as email

flyingpigsinclover · 31/10/2017 07:01

Probably not for about twenty years. I was surprised to discover that there is one at my workplace recently.

Musicaltheatremum · 31/10/2017 07:07

GP her. We are not supposed to fax now but our fax machine is set up to email so we put the document in and email it to an nhs address which includes our pharmacies.
We cannot email things to none nhs addresses. I was chatting to a friend last night who had had the IT department email his colleagues about him for a security breech. He had sent an email thread home to review and at the bottom of about 8 emails the CHI number (DOB plus 4 more digits) were in the email. (no patient name) The IT team get alerts to any 10 digit number going out in an email. 3 strikes and you're out too.
The biggest laugh was when a patient hadn't been given their discharge letter and instead of emailing it securely to our generic inbox the hospital, being unable to fax it any more, called a courier to deliver it! I kid you not. I went ballistic at the stupidity.

Our patients can email in or order through the website.

Lweji · 31/10/2017 07:22

A fax is basically a scanner with delivery and reception facility.

I'm pretty sure my printer at work has a fax option as well as email.

StripeyDeckchair · 31/10/2017 07:22

My Drs is the same

Request a prescription in person or by fax.

Don't get me started on getting an appointment.....

somewhereovertherain · 31/10/2017 07:23

We still have a fax and is used most weeks.

schoolgaterebel · 31/10/2017 08:08

Could you not post it instead?

Fax's are a thing if the past Grin

fridgepants · 31/10/2017 08:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

fridgepants · 31/10/2017 08:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the user's request.

hackmum · 31/10/2017 08:21

I knew this was going to be NHS-related. It's the only major organisation left in the country using fax machines.

By now they should have set up an online prescription service, but they obviously haven't, so I guess your only option is to put it in the post or hand deliver it. (They won't give out an email address.) Though it is technically possible to fax from a computer if you have the right software.

MiddlingMum · 31/10/2017 08:32

I remember when faxes were new and very high-tech Grin

There's a shop in our town where you can send faxes if you need to. I don't know how much custom they get.

Topseyt · 31/10/2017 08:43

I can email a repeat prescription request to our GP surgery. I also have an online Patient Access portal and can send the request that way too.

I am not sure how they send the prescriptions down to the local pharmacy these days though. I do know that until fairly recently (if not still) the signed prescriptions were collected on foot by one of the counter assistants from the pharmacy and taken down. Wonder if they have moved on to faxing them now. Grin

GlitterGlue · 31/10/2017 08:55

I knew this was going to be NHS-related. It's the only major organisation left in the country using fax machines.

The courts and solicitors also still use faxes.

outabout · 31/10/2017 09:03

OK Lurkinghusband, kindly explain WHY I am wrong in stating that the (original at least) fax machines cannot be copied.

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 31/10/2017 09:04

Have just googled 'name of surgery' and 'online repeat prescriptions' and apparently you can sign up for this!

Wasn't mentioned yesterday though, despite me asking about emailing Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 31/10/2017 09:04

out not the machines, the faxes themselves.

OP posts:
Musereader · 31/10/2017 09:30

DWP still uses faxes, when i was with csa 3 years ago i used to fax businesses daily to request nrp wages and send DEOs.

Now on the benefit help line if someone wants a proof of benefit letter urgently (that day) i can send by fax to any number customer requests or to their local jobcentre by fax. Ive sent a few down to lawyer’s offices. There is no email facility. - Mind you i dont send the fax myself, we print the document and pass it to a specific person in the office who sends the fax, she gets about 3 or 4 a day.

LurkingHusband · 31/10/2017 09:42

OK Lurkinghusband, kindly explain WHY I am wrong in stating that the (original at least) fax machines cannot be copied.

Well my fax machine doesn't produce a hard copy at all. It's turned into a PDF (or JPG) ready for emailing as many copies as I want to as many people as I want. There is no "original" to start with.

AspelK · 31/10/2017 09:42

Even the civil service has abandoned gfax machines! last year

This made me lol. I work in the civil service, our part of the service has abandoned fax machines. Unfortunately another part that we work closely with hasn't. Everyday I have to explain to them that we don't have a fax machine anymore.

I also work closely with the NHS and they regularly ask for things to be faxed over as well. Particularly GPs.