Hospital appointments

[the-hunter.livejournal.com]

I would love to post here about why I got this letter, but...well, apart from the absolute genius in the Ultrasound department, and the numbskulls in the X-ray department it isn't really techy. Although it does involve a search for a piece of missing tubing in one of my veins, a surgeon with reindeer antlers and Xmas day.

Maybe someone will allow me to bend the rules, because it is an example of stupidity mixed with idiocy an a life-threatening level. However, for now, I bring you the New NHS Booking System!! eleven!

I received ysterday a form to book an emergency appointment at the local hospital. It is a work of genius!

2x A4 sheets. In tiny writing. On the first page two box-outs, with an address to write to, and a phone number. The rest of the two sheets are covered in info on the new booking system *online!* It starts with the web address, goes on to give me my user name and pass code, carefully explaining that the password is two words, separated by a space, and all in lower case. It explains in detail the menu system and shows, by example, how you click through for various options. It details the privacy set in place. It documents the HTTPS security to the point of explaining (badly) what HTTPS stands for, the encryption, and lists in detail the responsibility of the NHS to keep my documents safe, and my responsibility to do the same. It explains how I can see my health records online if my area is an *early adopter* of a new system. Two pages, barring a couple of lines.

Then, at the bottom...

*Not yet available*

Head-desk!

What's worse?

[laptop-mechanic.livejournal.com]

What's worse? Call center monkeys with thick incomprehensible Indian accents, or call center monkeys with thick incomprehensible Spanish accents?

Both suck equally, actually. Neither can help you get anything done, because every other line out of either their or our mouths is "please repeat that" or "say again?".

Sure, great, they work cheap. The Global Economy is a good thing, blah blah blah. It still makes me want to find the idiot who thought people who speak poor English should be tasked with providing English phone support and carve out their eyes with a metal spork. Of course, I'd be just as mad if I was dealing with somebody with poor english skills from anywhere, be it Bangalore, India, or Bumfsck, Alabama.  One more thing to add to the list of stuff to fix once I become Emperor, I guess.