EDITORIAL COMMENT

The Standard is becoming a platform for debate. Before the current debate on Social Therapy goes for Trial by Noisometer, would not an account of 'Social Therapy Policy' (see last week's article by K. Applieton and J. Jolley) be in order?

We break Publications Committee policy, on this occasion, to thank Dr. Wallace for his article and to draw our readers' attention to it.

Social Therapy Review

Sports

The football match played on Thursday at home against Royal Albert resulted in yet another win for Winwick by 7 goals to 2. The football team have not lost a match this season and look well on the way to winning their third consecutive league winners medal. This is a great achievement not only because of the skill in winning but it shows the great team spirit which has grown between the players.

Voluntary Workers

As you all know the department have a number of voluntary workers who come in the evenings to help us entertain on the geriatric wards. Many of these workers are under 18 years and so are not able to be left alone or in charge of a venue on any ward. They are important to us in two ways. The first and most obvious way is the valuable breath of 'fresh-air' they bring on to the wards. Sometimes a change of face or a new person to talk to is as therapeutically valuable as any amount of entertainment any of us can offer. The second way is in the form of not so obvious public relations people. The more people who know what a Psychiatric Hospital is truly like, the better. People are still afraid of the old mental hospital picture and these youngsters who come to us, I'm sure, unconsciously spread the word that it is not a place to be afraid of but a place in which the patient comes first and nobody is ill-treated.

Cinema

It has been requested that staff who accompany patients to the cinema, sit with them and not along the walls. This is to keep all the gangways clear in case of fire. We hope that all staff will adhere to this simple rule in fire precautions.

K. Appleton.

*** *** *** *** ***

CLUB NEWS

The Committee of the Social Club regret any inconvenience caused to members during the next few weeks as the club premises being re-wired and decorated. Sorry about this but we are sure that you will be satisfied with the result.

Your host Mr. F. Callaghan is now back after being in hospital and waiting to welcome members old and new.

Snooker

A team lost to Latchford	7 - 1
B team beat Greenalls	7 - 1

Darts

Winwick lost Red Lion

4 - 3

Dominoes

Winwick WON

3 - 2

W. Hamson

LIBRARY NEWS

The last few years have seen a boom in the world of Do-It-Yourself; and the area of Education has not been untouched. Among the more popular series are - Teach Yourself and Key Facts. A few of the subjects covered in the Library are: Maths, English, History, Geography, Economics, Etiquette, Antique Collecting, History of Music, Handweaving.

Assistance with many subjects is available from the Education Department.

More generally our stock includes such authors as Hammond Innes and Alistair Maclean, excellent writers of adventure stories; George Simenon and Ed. McBain, both masters of the Detective novel, although vastly different in style; Jean Plaidy and Barbara Cartland, who appeal to many women; and a host of master-works such as - Moby Dick, Of Mice and Men, Don Quixote.

Do you remember The Forsyte Saga on telly? How you could never got hold of a copy of the book? Well, a film has been released recently based on A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess. It has given the poor old Censor quite a problem, violence and sex, you know. We've had a copy of this fine novel for years, and it hasn't been borrowed... yet.

Most recent additions to our stock include:-

Soccer my Battlefield/Nobby Stiles
Goals from Nowhere/ Martin Peters
Vintage Summer 1947/John Arlott
Lillian (Board)/David Emery
Not in Feather Beds/Lord Radcliffe
Forever Amber/Kathleen Winsor
Rich Man, Poor Man/Irwin Shaw
The Plough Boy/Tony Parker
Tony Jacklin in Play/Paul Trevillion
Car Repairs Properly Explained/B. C. Macdonald
Cook Hostess' Book/Fanny & Johnnie Craddock.

R. Bruton

It appears to be the case that a Rehabilitation Committee has recently been set up. May we assume that this follows the admirable lines laid down by the H. A. S. after their previous visit to Winwick in July, 1970 which were summarised in The Standard, Vol. 1 No.20?

D. McKendrick.

I would like to say a most sincere 'Thank you' to all my friends at Winwick who so kindly helped me search for Dylan on Tuesday afternoon and evening. He was eventually found at 10 p.m. looking very dirty and bedraggled but none the worse for his expedition. Thank you all again.

N. Coppack.

ART AS A COMMUNICATION

Art Therapy is a specialised way of using painting, drawing, modelling, sculpture, and allied creative activities for therapeutic purposes. it can be used in various ways and in many kinds of illness.

The freedom of expression offered by painting and the confronting of the problems of reality, together with a release of tension, makes painting a most valuable cathartic activity. This is seen in association with the patient's pride of achievement and his satisfaction in having made a statement about himself and about the world.

Painting may be the first step in communication. In the case of some patients it may be the only means of communication left. It gives access to the inner life and conflicts of the patient, and can be an integral part of psychotherapeutic treatment. A continuous series of paintings furnishes a permanent record of the patients condition and progress and of day to day changes. A group of patients working together provokes an exchange of ideas and a social atmosphere which can help the patient to adjust himself to society.

Art Therapy invites discovery not only of the things which are socially unacceptable, but unrecognised potentialities - a step forward out of anonymity.

The Art Therapy Department welcome and encourage staff co-operation to explore the possibilities of future development.

B. Naylor.

A PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATION

My diary has left me about fifteen minutes to-day to start writing this contribution, although I have felt eager to contribute to "The Standard" for a long time. This particular fifteen minutes of squeezed-in time has arrived a few days after reading rapidly through the issue Vol.1 No. 35 of the 4th February, 1972.

Reference is made in the 'Editorial' to the impression that the existence of 'The Standard' has yet to be acknowledged by the "most influential professional group" within the hospital. I am not at all clear which group has this distinct advantage, and I feel that I could write a few volumes discussing this phrase, and may well do so if the opportunity ever arises. In the vain belief that such reference is intended for the striving and frustrated body of medical staff, I am goaded into finally putting my own name to this initial long awaited contribution.

First, I would propose that - to get things completely clear - this editorial reference to lack of acknowledgement and enthusiasm needs minor modification. It seems to me that the only contribution connected in any way with medical staff has come from Norman Hughes, with his article on a Modecate project. This was entered as a team effort, summarised by him with reference to me. Personally, I have made many references to items in the magazine to my colleagues in various contexts including this pleasantly provocative critique in the last issue. Next, I would agree that items from my colleagues might be interesting, stimulating, or equally provocative. My personal impression to date is that the magazine needs more 'body', of a stimulating, enlightening and satisfying communicative character and I welcomed its eventual appearance as a hoped-for medium to improve communication, as things written down can be thought about, worked out, added to and responded to at convenient times, Explanation of an adequate nature, and better reactions and responses to articles would not go amiss.

In the issues of the magazine so far, I have seen little in the way of constructive criticism, and personal or team interests or projects, and equally little, for example, on the advantages and difficulties involved in changes in the hospital organisation. There are undoubted advantages - if these are allowed to proceed, and there are obvious difficulties, about which everyone knows. I see 'The Standard' as an item under 'change ', and I think its advantages could, and should, include being a general medium wherein everyone can exchange views and opinions, criticise, preferably constructively and show results of personal or team endeavours.

I am sure that personally I and the members of the team I operate will have other contributions to make in the future, and I would hope that contributions will come from other areas. Meanwhile, a number of 'headings' under which meaningful and constructive views and essays could be construed, have ocurred to me, and I mention them below in case they should be of wider interest:-

a)	Communication
b)	Team Work
c)	Basic Standard (magazine title)
d)	Apathy or Positive Resistance
e)	People v. Environment
f)	Research
g)	Personal enterprise
h)	Role of hospital
i)	Feeling and Experience v. Administrative Dictum,
j)	Possibility of personal observation and Research. e.g. 'Factors influencing Disturbed Behaviour' e.g.:-
i)	The Patient's Illness
ii)	The Staff Attitude
iii)	Inter-Patient Difficulties
iv)	Inadequate Communication
v)	Inadequate Treatment
vi)	Relationship with Relatives
vii)	Ward Environment
viii)	Staff Ratios and Individual Patients' needs for Attention.
ix)	Distance from Relatives and Social Services.
x)	The weather, solar system, black magic, drugs, etc.

D.E. Wallace.

Will staff and patients please remember that the kitchen is not to be used as a short cut between one corridor and another.

It appears that one day this week a near accident occurred to someone using the corridor in this way, and, of course, had it BEEN an accident, no claim could be established because the person concerned was not authorised to be in the kitchen.

** ** ** ** ** ** **