EDITORIAL COMMENT

That this is the season of goodwill is evident from other contributions in this issue and the Publications Committee take the opportunity to express their appreciation to all who have taken interest in the success of The Standard. Contributors, readers, critics, distributors, artists, those on the assembly line and the backroom girls, have all played their roles splendidly in meeting the deadline week by week.

Whilst we are not unaware that similar organs come and go with alarming regularity, and that few of its type achieve a weekly issue, we believe we have laid a good foundation upon which, with the help of all members of the staff, we can build and introduce improvements in the days ahead.

We extend to all our readers seasonal good wishes and our hopes that continued corporate endeavours will keep Winwick Hospital, our Hospital, in the vanguard of progressive units.

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Organisation and Methods Study on the Nursing Staff

Progress Report

We have now completed our observations on the wards (Phase I of the study), having spent a week or a day on every one of them. It proved to be an enjoyable, if at times tiring exercise.

The co-operation of the staff on each of the wards was excellent and I would like to thank them for their help (and their tea) and for their patience in putting up with strangers standing watching them.

We invited comments from the staff and, one or two personal ones apart, we received many constructive ones which will benefit the study. Unfortunately, in a respectable magazine which this is supposed to be, we cannot reproduce the comments received from some patients. Sufficient to say that we now know many more variations on the theme of what we ought to do with ourselves.

During the period on the wards, we amassed a total of 40,000 observations. This represents a pile of paper about 1' 6" high, which has to be summarised and analysed. If nothing appears to be happening on the study for the next few weeks, I hope the reason can now be understood.

Part of the team hopes to emerge from the base in Hollins House sometime in January, however, to start on Phase II of the study. This is an investigation into the paperwork on the wards and in the nursing administration.

I hope later to be able to make a further progress report.

May we wish all the staff the compliments of the Season.

J. M. Clifton
0. & M. Team Leader.

THE YARD IN FOCUS

The Benefits of Co-operation

There are of course a very few odd types who get a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how very odd they are by ignoring and even decrying the significance and the festivities of Christmastide - they seem to get a perverted sort of fun out of being Scrooges of an intellectual or a material form.

For the rest, and .thank God, by far the most, Christmas time brings us together in spirit, in thought, in fun, in joy, and even in some cases, sadness.

Millions of us as Christmas approaches decide and co-operate voluntarily to have goodwill in our homes, in our villages, in our towns - and strangely enough, we get goodwill and all the ineffable plusses that, go with it.

I was wondering, since a unanimous desire for co-operation brings such benefits at Christmas, what the benefits would be if the same desire was applied throughout the year and not just for the festive season, for we all know beyond doubt that by getting every shoulder behind the same wheel we can do better for the Hospital, better for the patients and better for the staff.

This is surely the ultimate prize and there seems to be no more to winning it than each and all of us deciding to have it.

Let us however, be thankful for the co-operation and goodwill that is so much in evidence at this time of the year.

To the Scrooges I would say, "Remember what happened to your prototype.". To all staff and their families I wish another season of goodwill beyond expectations and a 1972 of peace and happiness.

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Re. E. Hodges letter to the,Editors:

It is obvious that E. Hodge is out of touch with the situation existing on the Yard, when she assumes that we are seeking praise for work well done. No, what we want is appreciation in the form of craft status.

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Rumour

There is no truth in the rumour that this department is tendering for work on Coventry Cathedral.

J. Shaw

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Social Therapy Review:

Well, once again Christmas is upon us. And don't we know it! The Social Therapy Department has never been busier. Not only are we called upon to take classes, visit wards and hold socials but we are required to draw upon our reserves and become entertainers as well. And we really have fun doing it. From the time we hit on an idea, through hasty rehearsals, hilarious dress fittings, and finally the 'great' performance we realise what 'skills' must be hidden in our midst. It just takes a little cajolling and before you know it we have found a 'ballerina' alias Roy Mather and two 'corps de ballet' otherwise known as Billy Crook and Tony Gornall. Their performance has to be seen to be believed and by the time this article is published many of you will have already seen it.

Although I was out of the country on Thursday and Friday (in Wales actually) I heard via nurses, patients and our own staff how successful the two ward parties that we have attended were. It is very rewarding to see our patients enjoying something that we all take for granted!

Last Wednesday our Fire-Man, Mr. Evans, came into the department to give us a few tips on fire prevention. Believe me, it made us all sit up. None of us, you as well, I'm sure, realised the potential dangers within the hospital. Have a word with Mr. Evans, he won't put your mind at ease regarding fire-risk but he might make you that extra bit cautious. Just enough to say, save somebody from injury, or perhaps even save a life.

K. Appleton.

The patients of Female 6 Up have spent many happy hours knitting squares which are made into shoulder shawls and knee rugs.

We would like to thank everybody who has given their odd balls of wool to make this project possible. If anybody has any more wool (any kind) we would gladly accept it as this keeps our patients happily occupied in their spare time, as many patients prefer to knit rather than watch the 'tele', so please have a good look round and send us your spare bits of wool. The finished articles are given to the Geriatric patients on various wards, both male and female.

K. Lythgoe.

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WANTED: -

Motor-cycle, Moped, or Scooter, must be cheap.

Contact:- Mr. R. Ingman

Male Upper Delph Or Leigh 74503

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

I feel I must give voice, humble though it may be, in reply to your letter in the Standard.

I with many others, have found the Standard of Nursing vastly improved during the past few years.

Not only are the patients happier in their brighter surroundings and good clothes, but I know of no hospital anywhere where better care is taken of patients.

We are also eager to learn what we can from our ward sisters who set a high standard for the staff to follow.

MARGARET MATHER, S.E.N.

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Many thanks for the loan of the Father Christmas outfit also would you print in this week's Standard for me please.

May I on behalf of the Winwick Hospital Football Club thank all those who helped yesterday with the accident to Gordon Skeech who received a broken leg. It is a clean break of the tibula about 4" below the knee.

To Doctor Davies, Mrs. Weilding in X-Ray, and to all others thank you all.

L. JONES.

I think it came as a surprise to most members that 'Radley's Bar' had never been in the red. If there is still plenty of money left in the kitty after the small alteration which has been done recently, why not give the place a 'face-lift'? Get a proper interior decorator, one with good taste, and 'give 'im the money, Barney'. Don't let it end up looking like Riley's Cow-shed.

Carry on with the Come Dancing on Monday nights, Mrs. Milner, you are doing a good job. I am sure most members wish you well and forget about facts and figures.

PETER STRINGER.

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M.4 Up has had socials on a Tuesday afternoon for some time now. There was always a good response from female wards and everything went well. However, recently the interest in our Tuesday afternoon get-together has dwindled and last week was non-existent. I wonder what the reason is? The Social Therapy Department send a good choice of records and a therapist, the Charge Nurse arranges refreshments, etc. just like any other ward, the only thing missing is the ladies.

GEORGE F. McKIE
(N/A) M.4 Up.

On Sunday, 5th December, members of the Hospital Fire Brigade saw a demonstration of fire fighting equipment. Various types of extinguishers were demonstrated, including the dry powder type supplied to the wards, which are dramatic in their effect, snuffing out an inflammable liquid fire in seconds.

With the recognition of the importance of speed in tackling fires, the demonstration was followed by the regular Brigade practice. On this occasion, the task was to set up a standpipe from a fire hydrant, run out a length of hose, and direct a jet of water at a target. Aly Zmanay and John Molloy achieved this in the space of 23 seconds, and it is reassuring to know that the Brigade is keen to maintain a state of readiness to prevent and combat the menace of fire.

L. SMITH.

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The raffle, in aid of F.9 Up's Ward party, has been won by Miss Pennington, Assistant Matron.

The prize was a bottle of Whiskey, and Sister Footitt wishes to thank all those who took part.

SWIMMING POOL

We are requested to thank the organisers of the Student Nurses Association draw for the donation of £60 towards the fund of the Swimming Pool.

This fund now stands at £332.24.

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A list of prize-winners is posted on the notice board.

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We also wish to thank Mrs. Isherwood who works in the Nursing Staff Residence for the generous donation of twenty budgerigars to the hospital aviary.

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This year has seen much alteration to the main Kitchen and staff dining room. The kitchens were divided into two areas whilst the new extraction ducts were fitted, whilst in the staff dining room, a new self service counter was installed.

We should like to thank the hospital staff for accepting the inconvenience caused by such major schemes, and also take this opportunity of wishing everyone the Compliments of the Season.

E. ASTON.    J. BAINBRIDGE.

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