EDITORIAL COMMENT

When (if?) you open The Standard, do you

a) Curl up at the sight of all the big words, and feel that you're reading something that was meant for someone else?

b) Feverishly examine the initial letter of each line to see if there's anything in it this week?

Most people will naturally fall somewhere between these extremes.

However - we need plenty of feedback if The Standard is to be truly representative, and this does not seem to be coming from 'most people'.

Don't leave it to the other bloke - do it yourself.

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Social Therapy Review

Last week, as well as the usual venues provided by the Social Therapy department we were asked to provide transport and a member of staff to take a lady home to Liverpool for her mother's funeral. Though a sad occasion it was a successful exercise in public relations.

On Wednesday evening, the cricket team had a last practice match in preparation for the final of the inter-hospital cricket cup. They played on Friday evening against Sefton but unfortunately were runners up. Both teams enjoyed a very nice spread in the mess room thanks to Mr. Bainbridge, our Catering Officer.

On Saturday evening our dance in the gym was given a shot in the arm by three volunteer workers Mr. Watkin and Mr. Buswell, both teachers at Orford Secondary boys school and Mr. Buswell's wife who sang to their accompaniment. They have suggested a return visit and it might be nice to have them in the winter months when we are bound to stay inside by the colder weather.

The staff ladies Slimming Club is still very well attended even in this warmer weather when to stay indoors and exercise is better than taking a "Turkish Bath" or at least as hot anyway. The class now begins at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

K. Appleton

The response to the cacti query last week was swift. Mr. Green kindly offered to write a short series of articles for the Standard on this subject, which has been his major interest for years. He is well-known in local circles, and indeed, only this week-end, carried off numerous prizes in the Runcorn Association's Show. Our own greenhouses, and many wards and departments contain examples of his efforts in this field.

If you think cacti are merely for Apaches to hide behind, or are dusty little horrors on window ledges, begin reading this week.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

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In view of the mounting interest in the naming of the wards competition, we have been been asked to give a progress report.

So far we are unable to do more than confirm that such a competition does exist.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

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Cacti and Other Succulents

In answer to the enquiry about cacti, in the 'Standard' July 14th last, I will endeavour to try and help you all as much as I can.

First of all, lets get one thing straight. "All cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti".

Nearly all cacti and succulents growing in the wild, or natural habitat, grow in the tropics - that is about 500 - 1500 miles either side of the equator - and cacti in the home have to be treated as if they were in their natural habitat.

We will begin with cacti. Now these plants are only growing for about six months out of every year, and the rest of the year they are dormant or resting.

This resting period starts when we in Great Britain get our first frost and ends after the last frost, usually from October to March, and during this period no water must be given to the plants. If the plants do not get a chance to rest they will not flower every year as one would like to see them.

As I said, cacti grow in the tropics, but this does not mean to say that cacti growing in your home will flower during our summer. Some of the plants you have in your collection may come from the Southern side of the equator, and these plants will flower during our winter as if they were in their natural habitat.

To be continued........

BERT GREEN

SPORTS NEWS

The Cricket Final of the L.R.H.B. K.O. Competition was held at Winwick last Friday, between Winwick and Sefton. The result was a win for Sefton - their first success in the final of this competition since its inception.

The fact that we sadly missed G. Woods and our Captain, Dr. Briggs, must not be allowed to distract from Sefton's performance, and we offer them our sincere congratulations. We weren't good enough - this time.

The trophies were presented by Mrs. Dawber, wife of the Chairman of the L.R.H.B. Sports Committee. Also present was Mr. Simpson, Hon. Secretary of the L.R.H.B. Cricket Committee.

Our thanks go to all those who made this event so pleasurable - the Warrington H.M.C. our Catering Department, the groundsmen (Mr. W. Hampson) and the umpires.

This week we have a match against the Catering Department XI from Warrington General.

J.A. JOLLEY

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Please may I, through the Standard, at least try to say a very sincere 'Thank You' to all my friends and colleagues for their gifts, flowers and cards, and visits during my stay in F.I.C.U. where I was given every kindness and attention by Sister Kettle and Day and Night Staff.

D. McILWAIN.

I would like to take this opportunity, via the medium of the Standard, to publicise the forthcoming Garden Fete which is to be held in Delph Grounds on Wednesday, 9th August, 1972, at 1.00 p.m.

I am sure that this will be something of interest for all, with as much variety as we can possible manage. May I also ask if anyone has any unwanted items (diamond rings or silver cutlery) - anything for white elephant stalls etc. could you please pass them on to Mr. Horrocks C/N or Sr. Harrison, Delph Hospital?

We were going to give the proceeds to Miss Coppack for her hols, then thought the Swimming Pool Fund might be better.

If the enthusiasm and gusto which was present last year is again shown, then I'm sure that all we shall need to make our fete a huge success is good weather.

J. BECK,
Delph Hospital.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS - Code of Practice

Part III - Responsibilities - Trade Unions

1. The principal aim of trade unions is to promote their members interests. They can do this only if the undertakings in which their members are employed prosper. They therefore have an interest in the success of these undertakings and an essential contribution to make it by co-operating in measures to promote efficiency. They also share with management the responsibility for good industrial relations.

2. Trade Unions should therefore:-

a) Where appropriate, maintain jointly with employers' associations and others concerned, effective arrangements at industry or other levels for settling disputes and for negotiating terms and conditions of employment;

b) Maintain jointly with individual managements effective arrangements for negotiation consultation and communication and for settling grievances and disputes:

c) take all reasonable steps to ensure that their officials including shop stewards and members observe agreements and use agreed procedures;

d) maintain effective procedures for resolving particular issues with other unions and where appropriate, make full use of the procedures established by the Trades Union Congress for settling inter-union disputes.

3. Trade Unions should ensure that officials, including shop stewards:

a) understand the organisation, policies and rules of the union;

b) understand their powers and duties;

c) are adequately trained to look after their members' interests in an efficient and responsible way.

4. To ensure their organisation is effective, trade unions should also:

a) employ enough full-time officials to maintain adequate contact with management and with their members in every establishment where the union is recognised and with any employers' association concerned;

b) maintain effective communication, including the exchange of information and views, between different levels in the union;

c) encourage their members to attend union meetings and to take part fully in union activities.

d) maintain effective procedures for settling disputes within the union.

5. Members of a trade union should, b e prepared to provide their union with the authority and resources needed to carry out its functions.

(Next week: Responsibilities - the individual Employee)

This series is taken from HMSO booklet:

Industrial Relations - Code of Practice.

"WINWICKE THE UNREADYE"

I was intrigued by ye editorial of ye latest Standard Vol. 2 6, wherein ye cryptic message appeareth.

It is dutifully considered that ye Staff of ye Winwicke Hospitalle, having due concern to ye state of current development in this yeare of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventy two, have not yet reached that phenomenal climate of acceptance required to understand ye problems of ye hospitalle services nor to have ability to overcome suche problems wheree'er they might find them present.

May it be revealed in terms of exquisite and palpable meaning, so that suche statement can be verily understood by ye populace.

D.E. WALLACE
Consultant Psychiatrist.

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LIBRARY NEWS

It's impossible to read everything - and it very often happens that you can't even read a bit of everything. For example, most people have read some Shakespeare, some Dickens, some Austen. But how many people have any knowledge of Russian literature other than knowing that Tulstoi was Russian? And yet everybody 'knows' that Russia has a great literary tradition.

So - don't be content with envying folk who talk about it, and don't think that 'epic films' give you any clue either. Come and read it for yourself. It's no more difficult than reading the Forsyte Saga, and a damn sight more interesting. You can pick any from this list.

Dostoevsky	- Crime and Punishment
Tulstoi	- War and Peace
Gogol	- Taras Bulba - The Inspector General
Chekhov	- Stories
Gorky	- The Spy
Turgenev	- Fathers and Sons
Liskov	- Tales
Goncharov	- Oblomov

Please don't ask me if I've read all these - and if you want something less 'heavy' try our new paperbacks; there are several dozen new titles ranging from the usual to the Second World War.

R. BRUTON

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Following the appeal last week by the Blood Transfusion Service they will be visiting the hospital again on MONDAY, 24th JULY, 1972, to complete the second part of their project.

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20 members of the staff will be visiting the Exhibition of Equipment and Clothing for the Disabled to be held at the Hospital College, Liverpool. There will be a private showing of special clothing for the disabled by Lady Hamilton, O.B.E., M.A., of the Disabled Living Foundation. Chairman Mr. Alec Truimington, O.B.E., J.P.

WELCOME TO:

Miss J. Porter, who is on holiday leave from College - is at present working in The Pharmacy.

	Mr. S. C. Thornton	N/A
	Mrs. B. Poole	N/A
	Mrs. A. May	N/A

FAREWELL TO:

C.N. Barlow

T.N.A.

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