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EDITORIAL COMMENTFeeling full of the Christmas spirit and the usual Christmas rush the Editors are disinclined to make much comment this week. We would, however, agree that team spirit matters all the year round, all the world over. We would also like to point out that we did comment that the renovations carried out by our own workmen in the Recreation Hall were fit for the Heavenly Twins themselves: we regret our omission to say that the earthly management regarded the work, the workmanship and effort put into it as "out of this world."Social Therapy ReviewDetermination succeeds as proved on Tuesday by the foot-ball team. They played away at Langho Hospital and won by three goals to one. This was a league match, they certainly know when and how to win. The goal scorers in this Match were S. Friar, one goal and F. Foulkes, 2 goals. We look forward to seeing the league table. The squash league was interrupted last week whilst we prepared for the bazaar which was held on Friday afternoon in the female gym. The people who helped to make the afternoon a success are too numerous to mention but we were very grateful to you all. Special mention must be made to the sewing room ladies, female industrial therapy, female 9 Up for refreshments and the Rev. P Nunn and Ernie Silcock was admirable as Father Christmas although I think he'll have to cultivate a 'pot'. Thanks Ernie! Forthcoming attraction is a concert party to be given by the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board. They are at present rehearsing in the recreation hall and hope to produce the show very soon. (18,12.71) Even though the nights have drawn in and the weather has become cooler, to say the least, our swimmers refuse to be daunted and still attend the baths regularly on Wednesday evenings. Wouldn't it be an achievement if they were to enter for certificates in swimming. I'm sure some of our patients will be sufficiently proficient very soon. Christmas is not very far away, as we all know, and the hospital seems vary busy with preparations. All the wards are looking decidedly festive and a great credit to staff and patients alike. We are busy rehearsing entertainments for the wards parties and afternoons. We hope they will be successful - we really do.K. Appleton.CLUB NEWSDarts and DominoesThe darts had a great win on Friday last, beating the 'Forresters' Pros' 14 - 3 after being 3 - 1 down. They followed this victory by winning the dominoes 4 - 1. J. Pierce and E. Pickering won the Dominoes Pairs K.O. to become the first Winwick pair to win.Snooker and Billiards
Table TennisThe 'A' team lost 6 - 4 to AEA 'A' team after a hard struggle. Also, the 'B' team were a player short, and lost 3 - 2 to British Aluminium 'D'.** ** ** ** **The Annual Dinner and Presentation to retiring staff (held by the Yard and Gardens Staff) took place in the Club last Friday. Mr. Wood and Mr. Lane and Committee organised the evening, which was a great success, and a11 enjoyed a really excellent meal. Last Thursday saw the first venture of our new Entertainments Sub-section, when a discotheque dance was held. Judging by the success of the night congratulations are in order for the organisers and we look forward to their next function. Tonight (Friday) the Hospital Fire Brigade Dance is to be held, By the amount of tickets sold, this too should prove a successful evening.W. Hamson** ** ** ** ** ** **In reply to remarks by Mrs. Milner in these columns of last weeks issue, I would suggest she gets her facts and figures correct before putting pen to paper. Firstly, the Club has never been in the red since its inception. Furthermore she did not take over from Mr. Gilleland but from a gentleman named Mr. B. Sumner and she goes on to describe her two short terms of office as a considerable time. With all best wishes for the continued success of the Dance Section.J. Radley.Female Industrial TherapyThe department for Female Industrial Therapy has certainly spread its wings since it first opened in September, 1963. The department was situated in the converted female bathrooms, and in some cases the existing baths with wooden boards for tops were used as work surfaces. The first contract was received from a firm called 'Sunpats' this job entailed relabelling sweet packets after a price increase. No advertising was needed after this because word was passed on by the satisfied sweet manufacturer. Today the department covers a wide number of contracts:- Xmas decorations and cushion covers under the supervision of Nurse E. McNamara in room 1 - children's games and paper carrier bags under the supervision of Staff Nurse N. Williams in room 2; car sealers are cut into shape and more Xmas decorations are made in room 3 under the supervision of Nurse A. Graham and in room 4 Noddy soap containers are painted under Nurse M. Pearsons supervision. There is also an annexe to the department in the male bathroom. Childrens games and a majority of parcelling from the female side is done here, supervised by Nurse Archer. The staff with the help of visiting staff work under the guidance of Nurse L. Knowles who was in fact, one of the original staff of the department. As the firms expect a good quality of work a high standard of help and co--operation is maintained not only between staff and patients, but amongst the staff there is a team spirit which without doubt helps keep the production line moving. Anybody who visits the department notices how earnestly the patients work, obviously enjoying their job, in fact, Many do not like bank holidays because as in industry, the department closes. The patients work a five day week, at six and a half hours a day. Many like the part-time system of working afternoons or mornings only. They show a great deal of industrial talent which is a great preparation for those who become well enough to take jobs outside. The success of this thriving department can be measured in the fact that firms are now spending money in equipping the department with sewing machines, plastic sealers and now a printing machine. This must surely show that there may be even more success ahead.A. G. Clare.What is the Standard of Winwick?This is no detriment to the S.E.N.'s who were 'made up' before the first pupil school for S.E.N.'s. It has come to my notice that the nursing standard of Winwick Hospital is deteriorating rapidly. Let us first take a look at why Winwick Hospital started a pupil school. It was for people who wanted to know how to look after psychiatric patients, or for people like myself who were unfortunate enough to fail the hospital I.Q. but were willing to go into pupil school because they were eager to learn a little (if they couldn't learn a lot) on how to nurse the patients to the best of their ability. You can only learn how best to look after the patients by being taught by Qualified Tutors, in this time of modern techniques. This, for my part, took two years of studying, hard work, buying books, and a considerable drop in salary and paying for the privilege of taking a final examination; and two badges - the latter being apparently worth two a penny. Now looking over the situation, all I really had to do, was stay a Nursing Assistant for two years and I could have received my S.E.N. anyway. Now I ask you, the Nurses of the Hospital, does this seem fair?.... Because my heart cries out in protest, NO. I am an S.E.N. now and have been for the past four years, but for the pupils of the present moment, and for the pupils of the future - ask yourselves "Is it really worth it?" Because there is no encouragement given to you, with the exception of the tutors. I only hope that your eagerness to learn is not daunted by this sheer lack of interest paid to you, and you will go on and continue to make first class nurses, of whom, up to now, Winwick has been proud of. I doubt if this will be published because it speaks the mind of several QUALIFIED S.E.N.'s.J. L. Simpson.NURSING NEWSA new notice board has been installed on the wall in the corridor near the bank. In future all notices and news will be placed here for your information. Visit the notice board daily and keep up to date with the news. Don't depend on second-hand information; see for yourself.
If your memory is poor and your eyesight bad, A. Weadall.THE YARD IN FOCUSTeam WorkIt was with interest and a feeling of pride that I read of the achievements and degree of progress made in a ward project with MODECATE as outlined in the excellent contribution in The Standard Vol. 1 No. 25 by Mr. T. N. Hughes. That it has achieved such a large measure of success is due, to some extent on the team work shown by ward staff, long may they continue to work in this happy atmosphere progressing from success to success. It would be a tragedy if that team spirit were to be destroyed by bad policy decisions. We on the yard used to have excellent team spirit until the recent agreement for building workers resulting from the arbitration award. This agreement has caused nothing but discontent among the building section, and has set craft against craft and craftsmen against craftsmen, thus demoralising the whole yard to such an extent that team work as we know it is now non-existent. This is a department that can only operate efficiently as a team, for each trade is interdependent on the other trades, we are each a cog in the maintenance machine, pull out a cog and the machine eventually grinds to a halt. Let us hope that those who are responsible for the implementation of this agreement. will even now realise the value of team work and team spirit and grade us as a team.Recreation HallFollowing the fire in the Recreation Hall this department carried out temporary repairs so that entertainment commitments could be honoured. For this effort management lavished praise upon us and even invited us to an Olde Englishe Evening. Now that the restoration of the Hall is complete we have been expecting someone to pass comment in The Standard on the quality of the craftsmanship that is so necessary to restore a building of this size so badly damaged by fire, to its original condition and redecorated in what is probably the best decorative treatment it has ever had. Perhaps it is an oversight that management have not thought fit to mention the completion of what we consider to be a first class job but then how can they, on the one hand, praise the work as first class while on the other hand grading us in such a way that says we have not the ability to do first class work.J. Shaw.The winner of the raffle for the standard lamp, held in aid of Ward Female 1 Down's patients party, was Mrs. Mann, from ward F.5 Down. Congratulations to the winner, and thank you to the staff and visitors who generously bought tickets.D. McKendrickLast Sunday, Winwick were at home to Bay Horse in the First Round of the President's Cup. Despite a hard fought game, Winwick lost 4 - 3. Future Fixtures:
The following are the lucky numbers from the draw held in aid of Male 5. Down's patients party:
White 357 - First Prize ** ** ** ** ** **LETTERS TO THE EDITORS:With reference to the marking of wards. The present system of numbers can cause confusion as wards are frequently moved for one reason or another. This then puts the ward concerned in the wrong order of numbers. The ward then has to have all its clothing re-marked, this may take up to 3 weeks or more, because of some of it being in use at the time of the move, some in the laundry and so on. Some wards that have been moved recently have as many as 2 or more re-marks on them. This leads to clothing going astray. Other things such as hardware are not so easily re-marked and still carry the mark of the old ward. If the old ward is then re-opened we have 2 wards with the same stamp on some things. I should like to see all the wards issued with a name. This name would remain with that ward regardless of where they moved to, up or down would mot matter. All wards could have a clear name plate on each entrance which could be removable if need be. A central indicator board situated in the same position as the present one, but with slots to take a name plate for each ward (which could be changed as needed, to new locations). The same applies to indicators on each corridor. Small boards with slots in for each ward on that corridor. These boards could be made to lock so that they could not be changed without the key. Now as regards to the names used. We could use the surnames of famous people connected with the medical world. Womens names for female wards, mens names for male wards. Or perhaps we could pick the names of cities. Maybe we could get in touch with the city chosen and ask them if they would like to present that ward with a colour print of their city. Clatterbridge has a ward in the Radio Therapy Unit which is sponsored by the people of the Isle of Man and just by the. ward door is a colour print of a valley in the Isle of Man. If names are chosen for each ward, they could gradually be introduced as far as clothing is concerned with each monthly condemn. This would take time but each ward would be dealt with regularly instead of waiting for their turn in the queue.F. M. Collier.FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN THE HOME.Fire Dangers at ChristmasAlthough fire is a constant danger, there is an increased risk in winter and during the festive season. The use of supplementary heating and many of our traditional customs can inadvertently introduce fire hazards. An awareness of the danger is essential and everyone is urged to adopt the following simple precautions.* Secure paper decorations and cards where they cannot be ignited by heaters and hot light bulbs and make sure that if they do break loose they cannot fall on or near the fireplace. Remove gift wrappings as soon as possible. * Choose a moist green Christmas tree and keep it firmly anchored in dampened earth away from heat, doors and draughts. Electric tree lights are safest, but check them first. Keep tinsel and metallic foils clear to avoid possible short circuits. Turn off lights before retiring. Remember that a dry Christmas tree can be dangerous. * Guard all fires and heating appliances and position them so they cannot be knocked over. Particular care is needed where there are old people and children. Keep mirrors away from fireplaces since they encourage people to stand too close. * Matches, lighters and candles continue to cause serious fires in the hands of children and should be kept out of their reach. * Provide plenty of ash-trays for smoking guests. After a party search upholstery for the misplaced cigarette ends. * At night carry out a simple fire check to ensure that everything is safe. Check fire, guards, ash-trays, disconnect electrical appliances that are not required, and close all doors. If fire does break out, it is best to keep calm, Get everyone to a safe place, and summon the fire brigade immediately.-------------------* From article in Warrington Guardian by Mr. A.H. Warren, Chief Fire Officer, Cheshire County Fire Brigade**************WELCOME TO
Congratulations on Success in Final Examinations to:
Mr. R. Amponfi Congratulations to Pupil Nurses who have been Successful in their Assessment:-
Congratulations to Phillip Robinson who passed as Queen's Scout on Tuesday December, 1st, 1971 Many Congrats. Co-Editors. *********** |