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DICT8 Plus (new November 2022)

1000 replies

Whitestar55 · 10/11/2022 09:33

Hi, Here we go again, anyone else set up a new thread yet? Hope to find everyone 🙂

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carosel2 · 18/04/2023 10:03

@Gally123 - the tasks I were picking up was another Ireland Hospital. Wont say which just in case but none of the 6 Ive got on my list so must be new. Completely different template too so id no idea how to set the letters out etc but when i looked into previous they were all done in a different fashion so i just did my best but its a hospital ive never heard of before other than sending copy letters to them from other hospitals already familiar to Tpro plus it has a group of around 8 different hospitals with it so if they have picked up new clients therel be lots of work coming in but they were all Irish. I hope i dont get lumbard with them as its hard work trying to remember different layouts for the different hospitals as it is. Ive got six and its easy to get mixed up but to get another 8 dropped in. Plus id no idea of names of doctors etc and trying to google i just couldnt find any info particularly when they were such bad dictations you couldnt even fathom a bit of the name to match it but have to say it felt like working for Dict8 again last few days as the tasks were horrendous

olddoglover · 18/04/2023 10:13

@Chrissols do they need any more transcribers??

Whitestar55 · 18/04/2023 10:18

@olddoglover It's a conscience they need lol, so that transcribers get fair pay and conditions. Until them I'm not touching them.

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Pinksville · 18/04/2023 10:46

I can't understand why the NHS don't offer working from home on a bank-staff basis. I have been wondering if it would be worth going straight to the source and sending out a few CVs see what happens.

danblack87 · 18/04/2023 10:54

@gally123: I don't think fate was smiling NO. I don't think I will be voting for him put it that way ... If you are canvassing an area you should expect to spend time with voters rather than 'we are only canvassing today and don't have the time'!!! @ arsehole!! Told him 'you had better make time or you won't get any voters' to which his brother came to the door!!!! After he had gone he said 'he has always been a wa*r, haven't see the B'stard for years!!!!!😅

Whitestar55 · 18/04/2023 10:57

@Pinksville I have found that some Trusts (rare) offer hybrid home/on site working. One of my local Trusts offers bank working (not sure whether it's home or onsite) for support secretaries - but guess what band it is? Pay goes up, so band goes down it seems.

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Gally123 · 18/04/2023 11:03

@carosel2 - I saw the backlog this morning, noted 2 (so far) different hospitals to my usual ones. One doctor dictated an unusual layout/information to include so I had to ask Kate what to do and even she was flummoxed at first! I had a couple of Irish speaking dictators but most seem to be Asian/Arab going by the names. At this rate with all the different backlogs and helping out I will never get to type any decent stuff from my originally matched hospitals.

Gally123 · 18/04/2023 12:02

[email protected] this is the email address for Guy Opperman who is the minister for work and pensions.

Chrissols · 18/04/2023 12:03

@danblack87 @Pinksville nhs do offer home working, I do half for them and half freelancing for another company. I have been doing home working for the NHS for three years now on the bank, but am guessing it depends on the Trust. I do it on Band 4.

@olddoglover not at the moment but will give you a shout as soon as they are, they pay £12.60ph

olddoglover · 18/04/2023 12:07

@Whitestar55 I was just trying to find out if the new company Chrissols has found need new transcribers. I already work for T Pro and have done for a long time and am happy with them and earn a reasonable amount, just wanted an alternative as the lack of work in late Jan/Feb was worrying as it could always occur again at any time.

olddoglover · 18/04/2023 12:09

@Chrissols. Thanks for that. Unfortunately it is lower than I earn with T Pro! Good idea though to try approaching local hospitals if they have any bank work to do from home, I may try that. Thanks for replying.

Whitestar55 · 18/04/2023 12:22

The NHS bank support sec work I was referring to only pays £10 something per hour at band 2.

@olddoglover Sorry I misunderstood, I thought your post was regarding T-pro.

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Chrissols · 18/04/2023 12:22

@olddoglover thats great if your earning that with Tpro as it equates to the same as Band 4 in the NHS so really good for freelance 😊

Whitestar55 · 18/04/2023 12:25

I have on a very rare occasion earned £13 in an hour with Dict8, but find it impossible to keep up that level of effort and gruel over the course of the day. £7 to 8 pounds an hour is more likely when broken down over a day.

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olddoglover · 18/04/2023 12:26

@Whitestar55 no worries 😀

olddoglover · 18/04/2023 12:27

@Chrissols Yes I think it is good and the best thing is being able to work any hours/days and no travel expenses. Just worrying in case it disappears again like earlier this year.

Chrissols · 18/04/2023 12:30

@olddoglover i couldn’t go back to having to work set hours now, I love the freedom, and not having to go out on horrible wet/cold days 😊

carosel2 · 18/04/2023 12:32

@Gally123 - yes I thought the same yesterday, wished I just had the one hospital I originally was given, I got to grips with that and even some of the specialties I dont do as I was getting more familiar with them, but now I have that many hospitals and requests coming in by Kate regularly to type the backlogs and when I feel as though I have done my fair share when I go back to find some familiar stuff it has gone so, think I am being a bit too conscientious to help out here, I dont mind doing a bit but I am going to start typing what I like until I get badgered enough to stop and do other things otherwise I am going to be back to square 1 and not earn anything. I always type the red anyway as there is enough of them in every speciality to keep me going as Kate said they are priority regardless of date order. The letters I did over the weekend and yesterday were all Asian or similar, none Irish but from Hospitals in Ireland and all new Hospitals and they just could not string a sentence together making the VR very complicated so I just typed from scratch from what I could understand, it was diabolical.

Pinksville · 18/04/2023 12:45

@Chrissols I would want to freelance with the NHS not work for them, can't be bothered with all the political crap.

Chrissols · 18/04/2023 12:48

@Pinksville i only do it on the bank from home. I do 15 hours a week but choose when I do them and never have contact with anyone unless I contact them.

Whitestar55 · 18/04/2023 12:55

LOL@T-Pro......don't they realise that as freelancers paid by the line/character it does not make sense for us to choose the more difficult, less lucrative work, even if we are 'requested/guided' to do so. It's their problem as a company to sort out that problem and not for us to sacrifice our time and earnings for their profits, what kind of mugs do they think we are!

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danblack87 · 18/04/2023 14:51

@Gally123 I have sent an e-mail to Guy Opperman along the lines of those I wrote but without the spelling mistakes (probably because I was so angry at the time)!!! I await a response.

I have read Dict8 Limited Employee Reviews: Very telling and accurate IMO!

Gally123 · 18/04/2023 15:50

@danblack87 this is what I sent - a bit simplistic as I also work for tpro and DICT8 do PP work as well as NHS but that is all beside the point really

Hello Mr Opperman,

I was wondering what help is being planned for zero hours contract workers.

I work for DICT8 a medical transcription company used by many NHS hospitals to outsource the typing of medical letters.

DICT8 only “employ” experienced medical secretaries who have worked in the NHS for several years and have RSA and other typing/administrative qualifications. Most of the workers, as with other low paid work, are female.

We do not get sick pay, holiday pay or pension contributions etc.

DICT8 have not raised their level of pay since I joined them 10 years ago. Other workers inform me they have been on the same pay rate for 13 years and longer.

Pay is worked out “per line” and due to the nature of having to decipher the meaning of dictators many for whom English is not their first language, and dictators who mumble, work in noisy surroundings, technical issues, the pay consistently works out at less than £10 per hour, often nearer £5 or even less.

I would be grateful if something could be done to improve the qualify of life of people who are “essential” workers doing NHS work without the pay and recognition.

Thank you.

danblack87 · 18/04/2023 16:26

@Gally123 Pretty much what I said too although a little more lengthy!!! We need more people to do the same IMO to make an impact.

'DICT8 only “employ” experienced medical secretaries who have worked in the NHS for several years and have RSA and other typing/administrative qualifications' ...

This I said but did not limit it to a particular out-sourcer (there must be over 20,000+ of us out there working for lots of different companies on a self-employed basis); all out-sourcing companies are culpable in relation to employing qualified, experienced Medical secretaries/audio typists at low rate and us being exploited at lower rates than migrant workers with no experience. AND how do ALL out-sourcing companies for NHS get away with paying below the National rate!!!

danblack87 · 18/04/2023 16:29

@Gally123 : e-mail received from Guy Opperman's office part of which says:

Please make sure you have included your full postal address in your email, as strict parliamentary protocol means that Guy can only act on behalf of residents of the Hexham Constituency.

Not very helpful is it - where/whom do I turn to now ... infuriated.

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