In article <[log in to unmask]>, Jon Rogers
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>[log in to unmask] writes (with his spell checker switched off):
>
>> Guess whta will h
>>appen in October when the new FP10 forms are to instantly substitute for
>>the old ones?

My understanding is that changes in October effect the back of the form
only and that you do have to instanly substitute. This will either lead
to a need to scrap a lot of old forms in October of a shortage of forms
as the change approaches. (why not stock up now, although if you do this
will ensure a shortage. I think of my granny who is still using the
sugar she bought in the run up to the 1976 sugar crisis)
>
>WHAT!!!!  Is this idle speculation, insider knowledge or something I
>have missed in the melee.  I presume that any changes to the FP10 (Comp)
>have been fully discussed with the Companies and the User Groups and the
>GMSC etc, etc.

There are plans afoot to pilot a single sheet FP10(comp) for use in
laser and inkjet printers which won't handle fanfold paper.

This work is at an early stage, if introduced it will suplement not
replace existing FP10's.

Suppliers were not consulted, but we found out, and are now invloved.
>
>A friend of a friend has suggested that the original FP10(comp)
>dimensions (which are unique for fan-fold paper) were ordered by the NHS
>by mistake.  Someone apparently ordered the wrong width , by incorrectly
>including or excluding the perforations (I forget which).  The
>apochryphal tale then continues with the difficulties the NHS had in
>sourcing the paper, paying huge amounts over the odds to get their
>unique specification.
>
>I'm sure that is pure malicious speculation, and that the real reason
>was to deter forged prescriptions!


I admit it. It was I who told Jon this. I was there, it is true. The old
FP10(comp) had an overall width (including perforations) of 8.5 inches
(the width excluding perforations of standard fanfold paper). When told
that FP10(comp) should be printed on paper 8.5 inches wide. HMSO
shrugged and had some paper stock manufactured specially, at a stroke
reducing the range of suiotable printers avialable and boosting sales of
the narrow witdh tractor attachement for the epson FX80 (the printer of
choice in those days)

To be fair to HMSO it was probably not the first daft request that week
from the DHSS (as it was then) and in the volumes they produced the
addional cost may have been minimal.

A while ago this error was spotted and FP10(comps) have been on standard
width for some time.
>
>Jon Rogers                                    Tel: 44 117 950 7100
>Southmead Health Centre                       Fax: 44 117 944 5498
>Bristol BS10 6DF   UK                      e-mail: [log in to unmask]

Ewan Davis
[log in to unmask] - Bromsgrove, UK

Managing Director AAH Meditel Ltd - Supplier of EMR Systems.
[log in to unmask] Voice +44 (0)1527 579414 Fax +44 (0)1527
837287


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