EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion GMT or not ?

I'm all for it. If pilots can cope with GMT I'm sure nurses can too.

Put me on the spot - why dontcha Grahame!
Um, I have to confess that any times you see on the forum are extracted from the server clock - using a perl language function that counts and translates the number of seconds passed since 1970. This means that when the server is adjusted to daylight savings time - perl is none the wiser and still thinks the time is GMT. I'd hate to have to dig out all previous postings and correct them from DST - read that as I'm not going to dig out.....

We all agree we must do something, perhaps a vote? set a standard? Provided we vote to leave everything at GMT!

Huw kindly allow us to vote and I'll never put you on the spot again!

Perhaps you could arrange it so that everyone who thinks standardising on GMT could "post" their name etc on the site so that the MDA could be informed as to who is putting the idea forward ?
I am all in favour of standardising it throughout the NHS and if that means GMT that's fine, but I don't think we should make that decision. We should make our views known but let the MDA make the decision and circulate it.

When a new software version is being written by the manufacturers, couldn't they include automatic time adjustment for GMT/BST on the appropriate date ? (Assuming the date is set correctly of course).
I'm thinking of the Marquette Mac 15 ECG machine which has an option to automatically adjust to Daylight Saving Time on a particular date.

Excellent idea! The standard vote format takes 5 arguments. Would you, or anyone interested care to supply them? Either post here or email me.

Interesting reading all the comments about this subject, thought I would put my ha'pennyworth in.
The millitary have always used GMT or UTC as it is called now for logging. It makes sure everyone world-wide is talking the same language, time wise. Trouble is that all the patient notes would have to reflect the same time or there would be an hours difference in the summer. Very difficult for people to get used to this, as it is with the 24 hour time system.

[This message has been edited by Paul Balaam (edited 31-12-2000).]

What is UTC?
I thought Military time was in 'zulu' hours or something..?

Hello Sid,
Oh dear I have some explaining to do!
Sid if you could e-mail me I will explain about UTC and Zulu time, I did try replying on this site but ended up going on to long.
You can get my e-mail OK off the Hospital directory on this site.

I have had a discussion with our legal advisor and EME Services manager and we have decided that unless there is direct communication with third party users, ie Drs and nursing staff we shall be leaving all internal clocks on GMT. Most common items that will be changed are defibs, blood gas machines and ecg's.