| WINWICK HOSPITAL WARRINGTON | ||
EDITORIAL COMMENTDespite the balmy weather Autumn now has the stage with Winter in the wings. Summer holidays will soon be happy memories - but - we at Winwick, youthful and vital, leave memories to those older than us, today and tomorrow matter. Programmes are already planned for relaxation, parties and dances for the age of Capricorn. Our men have almost completed the Recreation Hall which looks beautiful enough for Gemini themselves. All signs promise that we shall play as hard as we work this season.Thank You To The League Of FriendsThe patients and staff of M.6 Down would like to extend thanks to the League of Friends for their generous gift of birdcage and stand. We really appreciate this. Our patients seldom leave the ward, so we have to try to stimulate interest in other ways.E. LathamINDUSTRIAL THERAPYOn Wednesday, 7th October, a most interesting conference was held under the auspices of MERIT, the organisation which three years ago was formed for the purpose of co-ordinating and extending the activities of industrial therapy units on Merseyside. This was the first venture into what one might term co-operative and centralised endeavour over the Regional area to make the fullest use of industrial therapy for rehabilitative purposes. The conference was designed to demonstrate not only the beneficial effects of therapy to patients but, as well, to show the extent to which MERIT could help in the management of therapy departments. In the main Merit was designed as a link between industrialists and the hospital and/or local authority spheres. Not only does it help hospital units but, in addition, it takes under its wing responsibilities which would normally attach themselves to the managers of sheltered workshops. Several experts in the field addressed the conference but of particular interest to Winvick was the contribution made by Mr. G. W. Grant,a research worker attached to Manchester University. Some of our Industrial Therapy workers will recall that Mr. Grant visited the hospital some months ago for the purpose of looking at the activities which are centered here at Winwick and in addition he took a film of patients who were actually engaged in therapeutic activities. One of the more important features cf the work which Mr. Grant did was the production of this film. An unedited version was shown at the conference and it was pleasing to note how well Winwick's activities were thrown out. Christmas card packing, paper bag work and Noddy painting were all featured. The film is intended as being publicity material to show to industrialists and our hospital was one of the three centres featured. Despite the fact that Winwick has not extended its activities too far into the machine age, and the use of sophisticated machinery doesn't find a very prominent place in our activities, nevertheless one felt that we compared very favourably with other Industrial Therapy workshops, at the same time the comparatives made one realise the extent of potential which is still open to us. On reflection it is pleasing to note that whilst generally speaking many of the contracts undertaken on a sub-contractual basis for outside firms is of short term duration, most of the work which we do has extended over the several years, an indication that the work done here is satisfactory to those who ask us to undertake it. All in all the conference was useful in that it underlined many of the principles which are being followed here and pointed the way ahead to avenues of activity which might very well be there for development in the future.Letters to the Editors:Reading Mr. Bayliss' letter in the Standard immediately brings to mind the many happy and amusing events of my own stay in Blackpool with the patients. We arrived on a very blustery day. (I think that's what you call it when you suddenly become airborne lifting the cases off the coach) Joan and Edna, our hostesses, gave us a very pleasant welcome, and in no time at all we were having a nice cup of tea. Five cups left over - well,,, that's logical - there are five patients missing too. Initiative, I think they call it; they'd gone into the cafe next door. What next? Who's sleeping where, and have they any preferences? Some knew who they wanted to share a room with, others just wanted to be told which room was theirs. One patient, quite slender and agile, seemed to be a good choice for the attic.. At that time I didn't realise she intended to enjoy the Blackpool air day and night. On my late night vigil, before retiring I peeped in at each room. Trying the attic door I thought the patient was pushing at the other side. It was, in fact, a Force 10 gale blowing. through the sky light which she'd opened. I walked in and said, "Good-God" - the reply being, "Isn't it bracing". What were our plans while in Blackpool? We all got together, and it was obvious from the start that most of our patients were going to make the best of their holiday in their own way. Realising this, I thought the best thing to do in the first few hours was to get ourselves orientated, lay out of shops, times of meals etc., and then, as the song has it,"leave the rest to providence and Paddy McGinty's Goat". The first day one patient spent all her money, but nevertheless managed to enjoy her holiday. Another patient, a heavy smoker who had not been in the habit of having a full packet of cigarettes, chain-smoked. She'd sit with the packet on her knee in the evenings, puffing and blowing like an engine, and her mate would say, "Have you smoked all your cigs yet, Annie?", and, between puffs and blows, she'd say, "Nearly". We were fortunate in having a pianist amongst us, and often our hostesses joined us in a sing-song. One patient believed she was Shirley Temple. Our hostess brought out a pair of Tap-dance shoes and we had quite a floor-show - the theme being, "On the good ship Lollipop." The Holiday is a wonderful time for getting to know your patients in a relaxed environment. I very much enjoyed listening to them, and in some respects was surprised to find how independent some of them are. I would say that most of the patients I spent a week with would never lose their way in Blackpool, and they not only discovered all the best places to buy trinkets, but they had all the prices of drinks and snacks weighed up. Often we bought fish and chips, and ate them while strolling down the Prom. (We certainly needed overcoats to keep out the breeze). We went to a few shows - always of the patients' choice; with a couple of trips to a local Hotel with a cabaret thrown in for good measure. One patient told me she'd always wanted to drive through the Lights in a Landau. She'd asked for volunteers to go with her to share the cost, but no one was interested as they felt it was too dear. So as not to disappoint her my colleague, Irene Hall, and I turned out with the intention of riding through the Lights. The patient was prepared for comfort under foot with a pair of galoshes. She walked the feet off us searching for a landau, but not one in sight. I couldn't walk another step. We got on a bus and went from one end of Blackpool to the other. On our last evening we'd arranged to go to the show - Nearest and Dearest. Everything in hand, or so I thought, until I discovered a ticket short. Or was I? Indeed not; just a patient too many. Not to worry - buy another ticket. "'You'll be lucky - packed house." See the Manager and explain the situation. "Your worries are over. Follow me". My God, yes, I think we're going to meet him. We seemed to have climbed surely past the clouds, and - yes you've guessed it - we left our patient sitting in the Gods with the parting words, "Don't move until I cone up and get you." Have you ever sat watching a show, feeling very uncomfortable, and expecting a red hat to come floating past any minute? All's well that ends well, as the saying goes. It was certainly a happy holiday for all.W. Terry.* * * * * * * * *May I, on behalf of the Patients and Staff of Male 3 Up say thank you to the persons who so kindly donated books to the ward.C/N.CONGRATULATIONS to the following who have passed their Intermediate Examination:
Janice A. Appleton * * * * * * * * * *WELCOME TO: Students:
Miss R. Gazell Nursing Assistant:Mrs. E. Forde * * * * * * * |
