DICT8 Plus Transcription Group 2023

[Whitestar55]

Here's the new thread. Hope everyone finds it x

@Carosel2 @danblack87 @Gally123 @TypoQueen1 @Lunnuni @deflatedbirthday @nomadchild @Frazzledbynature @Chrissols @cathyk2002 @Pinksville

Sorry if I've missed anyone.

@Doglover6109 - thank you for that. Ive had a couple this afternoon and a few respiratory but when I go back to list after typing there is nothing left. Ive had 6 letters all day 😣

Makes me cross abt the P&O Cruises that are being condemned about the pittance of a wage which is disgusting by the way its not on! but we self employed trascribers are being exploited just the same way by these companies we work for. When is the Government going to recognise the like of us guys! These companies are exploiting us and are for less money per hour!!

@carosel2 agree.

I would be better off claiming benefits at this point.

So I am currently trying to type some Orthopaedic letters this is not my specialty and is definitely not under the heading Orthopaedics. At least they are reasonably clear. Having to send a few "unclear" notes back though. I will await the feedback.

There are literally no letters on cardiology. There were some random ones on very early this morning but they went quite quickly and nothing for over 2.5 hrs now.

I'm considering applying for a job back in the NHS, but I can't bear the thought of sitting in a stuffy office with headphones on all day, being under someone's beady eye. I do hope they bring the state retirement age back down to 60!

@Doglover6109 - no I haven't had any cardiology, just the odd respiratory today and I mean the odd - 3 to be exact all day so far!

Try requesting more specialities (unless you already have of course!). I started with 3 in 2011 and now have 8 but I had to ask for all of them (over a period of time), except for Emergency Medicine which they asked if I would take. Now there's always work available on any day including weekends. They didn't ask if I had experience of typing them and they kept an eye on the typing for a while, then left me to it.

@dobboflex I used to do ophthalmology on here a number of years ago and that was the only specialty I did. When I came back on here after doing other specialties in hospital I asked if I could do ophthalmology and they said because it had been more than two years since I worked in that specialty that I could not do it. I have just asked again, so let's see what they say!

I was asked to do a specialty I hadn't much experience in and the proofreaders annihilated me for weeks so I got it taken off. You would have thought they would have been a little more understanding to start with !!

Yes they're a bit impatient sometimes. I got a criticism on a long Fracture Clinic dictation, done by a Dr with barely acceptable English and a heavy accent who dictated whilst eating lunch and coughing. I left quite a few comments! The email they sent back told me that they had managed to fill all the gaps in the letters except 2, which I don't believe. They even pulled me up for not spelling a Dr's name correctly which is contrary to their instructions that we attempt names if we cannot hear them clearly, which is what I did. Very unfair! They forget that their proof readers can play the dictation out to other medical typists in the room if they can't hear it. They also work with these doctors (mostly London or northern Trusts) all the time listening to their dictation. We work alone with zero help except for Google. I do searches but resent it because it's using precious time up given our princely 8 p per hour pay rate. For that clinic I earned less than £3 per hour when I worked it out afterwards and got told off for it to boot! I've made a note of the Dr's name and now avoid him.

I think the proofreaders are actually also transcribers who work from home, as I was once asked if I wanted to be a proofreader, although I declined - perish the thought - no thanks! They may have some in the office, but who knows, we get kept in the dark don't we. Do they really expect us to be happy earning £3 an hour, which is probably average for difficult dictation, not to mention tedious and exhausting to decipher, even AI can't do it correctly.

....also I suppose it is easier to 'hear' and fill in the gaps once someone has done all the hard work of transcribing the rest of it in the first place.

Quick question as kinda new to this part anyway, do you submit your invoices at end of March as normal and another til end of tax year in April (5th this year) or just leave it and put that in April invoice as start of next tax year ?? Thanks

I submit mine on the 3rd of the month as they like them in early but always keep a bit back to build up a ‘pot’ ie, I don’t invoice for all of it. I’ll submit that in May so it’s in the 24/25 tax year, got enough for a hot holiday now😊. A reward to self for all the aggravation and frustration of typing for doctors I struggle to understand!

Totally agree....which they ought to be reminded of

Due to being fed up of working all hours every day on DICT8 to make ends meet, I'm thinking of applying for NHS band 3 sec jobs. Has anyone returned to the NHS after a a few years' break and managed to not be put on the lower point of the band? I have years of band 4 experience, but it seems to count for nothing if you have a break in service.

@Whitestar55 have you thought about joining NHS professionals and working on bank? It appeals to me because you're not tied to any particular job and can choose what days and hours you want to work. My local hospital always looking for secretarial cover so I'm thinking of joining them as don't want to commit to full time work since I retired.

@Whitestar55 i was put back on the top of my grade and kept all holiday/sickness entitlement, although I had remained on the bank. Your holidays etc are on length of service regardless of breaks in employment

@Doglover6109 Thanks, yes joining the bank is my plan B. At the moment I'd prefer the security of a permanent, part time job, but failing that I'll be applying to join the bank. I've done temp work before, but I think now I would find travelling to different sites and hot desking and the uncertainty a bit challenging, then again on the other hand it can be better as you don't get dragged into all the red tape and office politics so much do you😁. Do you get holiday pay entitlement with bank work as you do with agency work?

@Chrissols Thanks. I suppose remaining on the bank would count as continuous service. Last time I returned after a break doing remote transcription, I was put on the bottom of the band, despite being one of the most experienced secretaries in the office.

@Doglover6109 You're fortunate that your local Trust uses bank secs, mine makes the permanent band 4s cover holiday and sick leave for colleagues despite having 2 or 3 consultants to look after themselves.

@Whitestar55 The last hospital I worked at was dreadful. Everyone from the office would either book holidays or ring in sick on the same day leaving me to cover 4 or 5 jobs. Friends of manager and if your face didn't fit etc etc. Tried complaining but nothing was done. My dad died so I was off for a while and when I got back hey ho they all booked holiday or rang in sick leaving me to cover their jobs. I became ill and was signed off with depression so took early retirement. Never worked in such a toxic place.

As long as your break is no more than 5 years the service is continuous. I would negotiate at time of offer. I’ve done it in the past and managed to get put on top of band 4 from the bottom in a previous role, they really wanted me and I argued experience and got it.

@Whitestar55 - I worked for NHS Professionals before COVID and I loved it. I got 2 days a week and the department was lovely. I worked for 2 years with them and they moved me about a bit but I loved it. I have aince committed to looking after my grandchildren for my daughter but shes a midwife and works shifts ao I cant reapply as I never know when Im needed as her shifts change weeke.in week out thats why I rely on the home working. You should look into it. The hospital originally had bank staff which I was apart of then they got rid of the bank and started using NHS Professionals. I must say it never affected me.