WINWICK HOSPITAL WARRINGTON

THE STANDARD

1st October, 1971Vol. 1. No. 18.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

The value of The Standard becomes more and more evident as the weeks go by. Comment, at times embodying criticism is good for us all, and when that comment comes from those who are in day to day contact with the actual problems that beset us, its value is enhanced.

The current issue provides space for a selection of replies to Mr. Bayliss' request of two weeks ago about the programming of patients holidays. This is really getting down to the meat of what we are aiming at.

Anyone who applies thought to the pitfalls and problems that could be and indeed are associated with the task of accompanying patients on holiday, must realise the extent of additional responsibility which attaches itself to the undertaking.

The success which has attended our holidaying experiences over the past ten years or so, has been largely attributable to the forethought, care and concern of those members of the staff who having accepted the responsibility have performed works of supererogation in ensuring that maximum benefits accrued to the patients able to accompany them to the seaside.

Perhaps the greatest tribute apart from appreciative comments from the patients themselves, lies in the fact that once having 'persuaded' organisations to accept our parties as guests, experience of their stay makes them anxious to have them again.

* * * * * * * * * *

Letters to the Editors:

Over the years patients have been away on holidays accompanied by staff to various holiday places and all have had a very good time, but the staff if conscientious, sometimes have a hard task depending on the age of the patients who go (mainly female).

I have been on mixed parties and the female staff have had a hard but enjoyable time helping the older patients, sometimes for twelve hours a day and are very relieved when the day comes to an end.

All the male patients whom I have accompanied have not been too bad, but of course they are carefully vetted as to their trustworthiness and behaviour.

On one holiday to Blackpool (June 1953) one patient (male) was broke after being there only a few hours, he had bought a ring for his girlfriend. Later he was trying to borrow money from other patients without much success but lunch time on Sunday he came in with a pocket full of half-crowns, he had been going the rounds of all the R.C. churches in Blackpool.

Years later I accompanied the first party to an Hotel and we had to clean the water pipes and drains, which were full of leaves etc., (Mr. Fox will remember this). We had to borrow a roll of steel wire (cost 10/-)) to clear the drains.

Anyway we enjoyed doing this.

Every patient I have had the pleasure to accompany have appreciated the time and trouble taken by all who organise these holidays.

B. Rigby.

* * * * * * * * * *

Reading Mr. Bayliss's letter in the Standard prompted me into remembering my experience of holidaying with patients and here, for what it is worth, is a brief resume of the week as I remember it.

It is almost twelve months ago, and we arrived in Blackpool on a very blustery day, to receive a warm welcome from our hostesses and offered the ever welcome cup of tea. Having got all our Senior Citizens safely off the coach and seated in the lounge with cups of tea my colleague and myself decided to sort out the sleeping arrangements and to take luggage to the rooms as allocated. Returning to the lounge to find out how the ladies were settling we learn two of them have taken themselves out. By the usual process of elimination we ascertain the names of the two ladies in question and realise this is the only thing we know about them. However nothing daunted we set out to look for them, feeling confident that none of the others will venture out in our absence as by this time it is "Bucketing" down with rain, and what was earlier referred to as "bluster" has now resolved into a force 8 gale, or so it seemed as we struggled unsuccessfully to hold an umbrella over our heads. Having scoured the immediate surrounding district with not a glimmer, and me with increasing foreboding we decided our best plan was to make our way back to the house in the forlorn hope that they would have returned. As we neared the road we saw two lone figures going steadfastly in the opposite direction, that I thought must be our friends, as it seemed there were only they and us outdoors in al1 of Blackpool - sweet relief it was, they were looking for the whereabouts of a niece of one of them, we promised we would find the address later in the week when the weather improved (this particular problem sorted itself out when the niece located and took her aunt home to tea on Wednesday)

Monday night as I lay awake mindful of my charges, and hopping in and out of bed shepherding them back to bed after visits to the toilet (next door to which my bedroom was situated) the week seemed to me to stretch before me into infinity, "Holiday" I thought, 'I will be returning a physical and mental wreck."

Tuesday morning the sun was shining and we began to get organised, several of the ladies were able to go out on their own but some remained with us constantly and we made numerous "sorties" into the nearby shops and up and down the prom. We had three coach runs taking us further afield and paid a visit to one of the theatres showing Old Thyme Music Hall, which went down very well with all.

Two evenings we ventured into the "local" which was quite a 'posh' affair complete with trio and cabaret, and I had good reason to enjoy and be proud of the company I was in.

All in all the week flew by despite my gloom to start off with, the ladies really enjoyed their stay there, thanks in no small measure to the unstinting work of our hostesses and perhaps to the bracing air of Blackpool.

May I take this opportunity to wish all going on holiday this year fair weather and a trouble free time.

E. Page

ODE TO THE BELLS

not these but these

Please wind me up, roll me down,
You'd better bring the pan,
And take the bedspread off my bed
As gently as you can.
My flowers need some water,
There are wrinkles in my bed,
And would you kindly go and get
An ice-bag for my head?
I need a tranquilizing pill
And one to help me sleep,
And get me quick a fracture board
I'm lying in a heap.
I want a wheel chair for my own
You leave it by my bed.
And I don't like the diet
That I am being fed.
You might as well remove the pan
I thought I had to void.
Pick up my Kleenex off the floor
And don't look so annoyed.
My housecoat should be put away
Not draped across the chair,
Please look and find my slippers
And put them over there.
I need a pill to stop my pain
And I'd like a cup of tea
Tell the patient down the hall
Her radio bothers me.
Buzz Buzz the buzzer goes again
What makes you take so long?
You should get here in half the time
In case there's something wrong.
You never should have left the room
You knew I had to go
Too late to bring the bed pan now
I'm soaked from head to toe
Go get some water in a dish
And wash me right away
Strip my bed and get clean sheets
And don't you take all day.
I'd like some powder on my back
And where's my cup of tea?
I'll have to tell the nurse in charge
That you're neglecting me.
You'd better call my doctor
He's not been here for days
Tell him how very sick I am
And that I need X-Rays
I want to stay here for a month
The nurses are so swell
I love to see their faces
Each time I ring the bell.

L. A. Beck

* * * * * * * * * *

I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity of completing a course of study at the William Rathbone Staff College, Liverpool, entitled Senior State Enrolled Nurse. Therefore I feel I must enlighten my colleagues of the great advantage in a course of this kind.

Never again will I think of myself as only an S.E.N. as so many of us refer to ourselves and are referred to. I now feel proud to be a member of such an important nursing body. Let us never forget we are the nurses who work nearest our patients, and will always continue to do so, what greater job satisfaction can we ask, after all this is what nursing is all about to give still a better service to the sick,

As S.E.N.'s we will always have this opportunity, so let us be proud of our status. We have been developed and trained by our administrators who feel we are the right people for the job, it is up to us to use our ability to improve still further.

If we try to understand great difficulties of our administrative body we will more readily accept changes, by keeping our patients welfare at heart, changes will never be too difficult.

Each of us can then. help to perfect our own ward team.

A. Joynson.
It is with great regret that we record the death on 6th September, 1971, of Eric Sandham, who had served the hospital for 23 years. Eric was held in respect and affection by all of us for courage in face of disability. We tender to his family our deepest sympathy.

An Eye Opener

I have heard many comments, both good and bad about various departments of the hospital and wonder how these can be made without the person having any idea about the workings of the group concerned.

Last Saturday, I was invited to accompany our Ladies Display Team to a Keep Fit rally, held at Croston Near Chorley. It really was an eye opener. Our ladies' showed great concentration, co-ordination and sheer enjoyment in following the display routine and were well appreciated. Our ladies mixed well and were fully accepted as 'Winwick Ladies'. The therapeutic value of this in itself is undeniably priceless. We shared a very pleasurable afternoon and hope to repeat it soon.

One blot on the afternoon was the state of our ladies underwear. Young women in huge pink bloomers, creased satin underskirts and bras that fit where they touch. In a dressing room shared by everyone this spells out in huge letters- INSTITUTION.

R. Appleton.