I work for the NHS in IT
You can sum up the management like this:

"We want you to come and work on this new project. It's cutting edge, no other hospital is doing it, it'll be a real feather in our cap and look great on your CV.

...only thing is, you need 10 people really, but we can only give you 8.

...but that's okay coz we've only got room for 8 desks anyway.

...but we can only afford 7 computers, so you'll have to be creative there.

Oh, and by the way, the minimum spec for the software is slightly higher than our standard build, and we can't afford to upgrade the computers. It should work, but it might be a bit slow sometimes...

But it'll be really great, I'm really excited about it and I hope you are too.

Oh, one more thing: we can't recruit at the moment so there's no-one to take over your current role; if you could just keep an eye on that as well that would be fab"

And they wonder why none of the new computer systems ever work properly...
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Sat 12 Jun 2010, 11:50, 13 replies)

I used to work for NPFIT some years ago.
Sounds like it is shit now as it was then.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sat 12 Jun 2010, 11:58, closed)

Oh yes...

(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Sat 12 Jun 2010, 12:03, closed)

The worst thing was the fact that none of the SLSOs could seem capable of talking to each other.
Fujitsu couldn't understand ATOS, and CSC had no clue how to deal with IBM. I feel sorry for the local IT staff, and would gladly introduce the people who ballsed up the implementation of what could have been a very good idea to the business end of my boots.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sat 12 Jun 2010, 12:14, closed)

Fujitsu?

I don't suppose you know anything about Fujitsu PACS? Specifically, how you pull a URL out of their godforsaken system?

Trieds joining the technical user group only to be told it's Yanks only...


Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Sat 12 Jun 2010, 14:04, closed)

Greetings fellow nerds
Any jobs going for an Oracle PL/SQL developer?
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Sat 12 Jun 2010, 15:35, closed)

I know not of any.
However Lorien do a lot of technical hiring so that might be a port of call for you.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 13 Jun 2010, 22:46, closed)

Cheers
I'm on the books of every agency, trouble is, so are about 50,000 other out of work IT types. Still, I live in hope.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 17:52, closed)

Hmmm...
Have you considered going into business for yourself? Ipad apps, that kind of thing? This of course does depend on knowing the relevant programming languages, but it appears to be a growth market. As for me, I'm starting my own business soon- getting fed up of first/second line helldesk!
( jim_bob can herd cats., Mon 14 Jun 2010, 20:50, closed)

I'm working on a couple of windows apps
still looking for a job though.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Tue 15 Jun 2010, 9:50, closed)

'Fraid not.
Not really my area of expertise I'm afraid chap, but from what I remember from my days on the helldesk I think that was a vendor job- say for example if there was a locked patient record on the PAS it would have to be passed to the relevant SLSO/vendor (CSC was the main one for dealing with these), and we used to get a lot of these. I would imagine the same applies, but considering you're in upside-down land I'm not sure if the same support structure applies- i.e. local support desk, to the national desk, and then to the SLSO.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 13 Jun 2010, 22:45, closed)

At least i'm not the only one who has to deal with the NHS
I had a meeting with one trust where their director of IT wasn't aware you could drag-and-drop emails between folders.

Action items from the meeting: "Do nothing"
(skintagain, Sun 13 Jun 2010, 9:59, closed)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I really, really hate the use of the word 'action' as a verb. It makes no sense and it is utterly, utterly wanky.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 13 Jun 2010, 22:47, closed)

Could not agree more...
but was the exact phrase the director ended the meeting with
(skintagain, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 11:42, closed)