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Archive for the ‘System failure’ Category

Google users hit by mail blackout

01 Mar

googlemail1For many of us, email is such an integral part of our daily lives that to be without it, even for a short period of time, would be unimaginable.  However, this is just what happened to almost 113 million Google Mail users this week when a technical problem caused the Gmail service to go offline for between 2-4 hours.

Google Mail is the third most popular web mail service with many personal and business users being reliant on its availability.  Indeed Google’s own press office couldn’t email out to inform customers and journalists about the problem.

Read the full news story here

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Posted in Communication, Dependence on ICT, System failure

 

NHS boss attacks e-records system

15 Feb

patientnotes

The new NHS medical records system is supposed to provide us with a centralised method of keeping the medical records of every man, woman and child in the UK.   The plans are that it will also provide an online appointment booking system, digital imaging for X-rays and an electronic prescription service.

Although the idea is sound, the practicalities of developing and implementing such a complex system is proving to be far from easy.

The Royal Free hospital has been taking part in an early trial of the new system since last summer.   Unfortunately, they have been far from impressed by what they have experienced.

Read the full news story here

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Posted in Databases, Medicine, System failure, Systems development