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Story: When Indian transcriptions head awry

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On Flea bites and Baloney.....

Good medical secretaries are becoming a rarity as a result of the poor pay and general lack of self-esteem in the NHS inspite of heavy workload.

'Fleabites' (Phlebitis) and 'Baloney' (Below-kenee) are not exclusive to off-shore productions. The home made varieties are not infrequent and are often grosser. As the number of experienced and trained medical secretaries in the UK dwindle, we are faced with a phenomenal inability to cope with medical terminology in dictation.

In any case, all transcriptions should be checked for mistakes by the medical staff who have dictated them and then be authorised. If unchecked letters were sent out from a hospital or placed in patient records, it is the responsibility of the system and the medical authorities have to shoulder it.

It is not uncommon in the NHS to have clinic letters typed 4-6 months after being dictated in clinics and on the medical wards. There are wider issues which need to be approached and addressed before knee-jerking at secreterial errors.

Offshore-bashing will continue to escalate as the domestic workforce is threatened with losing jobs at home to millions of unemployed and skilled workers overseas. There are worries that this will result in a backlash in public attitude fuelled by resentment.

A casual backward glance at History should make one realise that lesser issues have ignited and fuelled conflict. The current global political milieu provides fertile ground for repeating mistakes. Of this, we must be wary.

Rather than righteously adopting the role of the invaded and seeking short-term solutions, introspection into the root causes of these phenomena is needed.

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