EDITORIAL COMMENT

For the staff of "The Standard" the verse published last week proved to be extremely thought-provoking. Presuming that it did not merely seek for details of the rumour mentioned in the relevant Editorial - for our comment concerned Rumour in general rather than in particular - then it raised a question fundamental to the magazine's philosophy (and also to Winwick).

We would agree with the authors that plain speaking is necessary and long overdue, but are we yet at the stage when all can tolerate unbridled criticism?

We think not, for one of the main criticisms which have been levelled at "The Standard" is that its pages have been used by people wishing to "fire broadsides" at others.

How can this be reconciled with a plea for plain speaking?

Social Therapy Review

Sport

On Thursday afternoon we were paid a visit by the football team from Mary Dendy hospital. They played in the pouring rain and blustery winds to win by 9 goals to 3. It's a pity they weren't on the same form for the past few league matches which were deciding matches in the hospital league fixtures. The girls are still not having any luck in finding a women's team to play a match but where there's hope..............!

Entertainment

Well if you didn't see the Variety Show last Saturday you really missed something. This was the first attempt by Social Therapy Department and friends to produce, direct and perform a show in the female gym. It took a long time coming with lots of preparation; stage, costumes and acts. I can assure you that all those who took part worked with great enthusiasm and were amply rewarded by the fantastic reception we had. The afternoon performance was attended by mainly the geriatric wards plus V.I.P's including Dr. Ward and Alderman L. Ball, ex-Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee. The League of Friends helped enormously by collecting patients and returning then to the wards.

The evening performance was as, if not more, successful with many friends and guests attending. At the risk of being accused of blowing our own trumpet, everyone made comments to the affect of "great; fantastic and when is the next one?" We hope to build on this first experience and produce an even better show next time. Thanks to everyone concerned specially the sewing room who were more than helpful to us.

K. Appleton.

Letters to the Editor

Re. Canteen

Do the people responsible for closing the canteen AD-LIB, realise the agitation caused amongst patients who are deprived of their regular supply of cigarettes etc. particularly after being closed over the Easter period?

It is appreciated that stock taking must be carried out, but surely this could be done out of opening hours?

We would welcome other peoples' opinions on this matter.

B. Platt
J.F. Mugan
A. Badger
F. Carroll
K. Richardson.

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F O R  S A L E

Shark Blue Ford Anglia, Taxed and Current M.O.T. good condition and excellent running order, spotlights fitted. £70 o.n.o. Apply to A. Ravenscroft, M. 7 Down.

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L 0 S T

On Saturday evening, April 1st, In the Female gym, or thereabout, A Ronson Lighter engraved with the initials J.A.J. Sentimental value, finder rewarded, please contact Clerical Office or Social Therapy Department.

E. Tracey, F. 1 Down, left her handbag in the R.C. Church on. Easter Sunday and would be grateful for its return.

Publications Committee.

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Modern Sequence Dance

Last week's item on the forthcoming Dance organised by Mrs. M. Milner stated that it was in aid of the Joint Consultative Staffs Committee.

Members wish to point out that they are not so impecunious. The dance is, in fact, in aid of the Joint Consultative Staffs Committee Benevolent Fund.

Publications Committee.

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Slimming Club

We hear that the Winwick Weightwatchers Club continues to be popular, and its organisers wish to inform interested staff that future meetings will commence at 7.30 p.m. and not 3.00 p.m. as announced last week. This is to allow adequate time for night staff to attend before going on duty.

Publications Committee.

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Working Party To Be Formed

Charge Nurses and Ward Sisters were informed last week on an H.M.C. decision to set up an Officer Working Party to examine their hours of duty.

It is proposed that the working party will include the Head of Nursing Services, a Medical Officer, the Group and Hospital Secretaries and Unit Officer and representatives from Trade Unions and Professional Organisations. Representatives of the Charge Nurses and Ward Sisters are also invited.

Publications Committee.

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Club News

Snooker

Winwick (A) 3	v	St Mary's 5
Winwick (B) 7	v	C.Y.M.S. (B) 1
Winwick (A) 2	v	C.Y.M.S. 6

Darts

League Pairs Semi-Finals

Winwick lost to Red Lion at the Raven Inn 2 - 1

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League K.O. Semi-Final

Winwick beat 'Comfortable Gill` 7 0 at the New Inn.

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Table Tennis

Winwick (B) 6

v

B.A. 4

The Eclipse of the Staff Nurse

My first year in Winwick hospital as a recently qualified staff nurse, over thirteen years ago, was quite a busy and exhausting one. We worked a 12 hour day then, and by the time one got home at about 8.30 p.m. one was acutely conscious of having done a tiring but satisfactory day's work.

The staff nurse in those days seemed to be employed in a much wider range of nursing activities than he is now.

There are some people who would go as far as to say that in the intervening years the role of the staff nurse has been so diminished as to be now, non-existent.

A considerable body of nursing opinion supports the view that the process of the professional eclipse of the staff nurse has been the direct result of the progressive "laicization" of patient care which has taken place in Winwick in recent years.

The more extreme advocates of this now further contend that the role of the present day staff nurse has been reduced to one of patient escort duties...

On Mondays, the staff nurse escorts the patient to Social Therapy to hand him over to the Social Therapist, usually a lay worker...

On Tuesdays he will accompany his patients to the Industrial Therapy unit to place them in the care of the lay artisan therapist...

On Wednesdays the staff nurse will walk his patients to O.T. to entrust them to the charge of the lay OT. worker...

On Thursdays he will find himself on escort and tea boy duty under the benevolent direction of the Art Therapist...

On Fridays the under-occupied staff nurse will spend his day twirling his thumbs in the Cultural Centre.

This programme is varied sometimes by passive periods under the gentle baton of the Education Officer..

If during the day the staff nurse sneaks back to a ward emptied of patients, he will get in the way of the domestic supervisor who has assumed responsibility for kitchen management and general ward hygiene...

Should he enter the charge nurse's unheated office he will interrupt the shivering charge nurse who spends most of his time tidying case notes after the M.O.'s visit or compiling statistical information for the benefit of his lay-masters.

The charge nurse's cold office is therefore nearly always avoided because no self-respecting and maybe doubly trained staff nurse wishes to spend his time sorting out and interpreting nursing instructions contained in the copious flow of memoranda which comes daily to the ward from various lay-departments throughout the hospital.

If he escapes to the ward clinic the staff nurse will be shooed out by a busy and washed S.E.N. who has taken over responsibility for dressings and drug administration.

If he finds himself acting up for the Unit Officer in the absence of the charge nurse the staff nurse may get embroiled in lengthy discussions about suggestions emanating from the 0 & M people who have been appointed as arbiters of nursing standards for Winwick Hospital.

In this and in other issues the advocates of the "liacization" theory may be outrageously wrong.... but when they point to the (alleged) fact that the committee now being set up to define the job description of the charge nurse under the chairmanship of the H.O.N.S., contains 4 trade unionists, 2 lay administrators, an M.O. and only one charge nurse and one ward sister, their case would appear to have been made unassailable.

As regards my own position in those issues I am not sure that I can claim one. Our thinking about the processes of change especially when we are involved directly in them - is invariably on an emotional plane and it seems to me to be unwise to make hasty declarations of commitment to fixed positions until one has acquired the insights which bring objectivity within our reach.

C. Breslin

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Miss Holmes, a Nursing Adviser to the Department of Employment and Productivity will be visiting the hospital 12.4.72 to discuss and advise on recruitment problems.

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Congratulations To:-

Mr. T. Flaherty Mr. G. Say Mr. N. Kenny Miss K. Sharpe

on qualifying as S.R.N.s

Farewell to:

T.N.A. E. Forde who is returning to live in her native land, Ireland.

Welcome back to

D.S. E.G. Heaton on her return from General Nurse Training.

Welcome to:-

S.E.N.	Miss M. Horrocks
N/A	Mrs. T. Coleman.

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