Editorial Comment

The late distribution and somewhat unusual aspect of last week's issue were the result of mechanical failure beyond anyone's control. Infuriating is a mild way of describing such failures, and immediate steps have been taken to obtain supplies of a better quality paper which should pacify the machine concerned.

Mr. Evans' article last week stressed again the dangers of fire in a hospital such as this. He concluded -- "the linesman and the public are ready, we are waiting for someone to call 'pla'". Fire itself called 'play' at a Surrey mental hospital last week-end. Three firemen were injured before the fire was brought under control, and, although the area concerned was unoccupied at the time so that no patients were injured, this incident underlines the constant relevance of Mr. Evans' arguments.

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Social Therapy Review

On Thursday, the football. and netball teams had their first match of the season against Parkside, played at home. Both matches resulted in wins for Winwick, the men by 7 goals to nil, the ladies by 15 goals to 3.

On Saturday evening an amateur show presented by the 'Kentucky Minstrels' from Manchester was performed in the Recreation Hall, 365 people including 130 visitors from Cranage Hall, Newchurch and Mary Dendy Hospitals, watched the show and found it very entertaining. The 'minstrels' are a completely voluntary company and work solely for charity.

We have three more staff down in the department, Norah Carter from F.7 Up, David Reston, M.7 Up, Tom Marks, Male Delph.

A week last Monday one of our staff, John Mercer, M.6 Up, left us for a full-time job in the community. He has left the hospital completely and will be living with his aunt in Widnes. We should like to wish him every success.

K. Appleton.

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GRAND HALLOWE'EN DANCE IN THE RECREATION HALL
FANCY DRESS PREFERABLE PATIENTS & STAFF.
31st October, 6.30 p.m.

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U.S. Army Band at Winwick

On Sunday, 15th October, 1972 at 11.00 a.m. the TAS.COM.BAND of the U.S.A. ARMY gave a performance in the Church of England Church. The Band is the largest American army band in Europe and comprises thirty five instrumentalists.

After the performance many staff and patients commented enthusiastically on the quality of the music, and looked forward to the next visit of the band.

Publications Committee.

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Visit of the 76th United States Army Band
Sunday 15th October, 1972

Before the visit of "TASCOM" (The United States Theatre Army Support Command Band) few of us realised how very fortunate Winwick was, to be included in the itinerary programme of the band's first ever visit to Great Britain. Those who heard the band on Sunday were left in no doubts about our good fortune.

The visit was slotted into a crowded week of engagements and was made possible through the good offices of Col. Vaughn, Commanding Officer of Burtonwood Base, and our Vice-Chairman, Councillor E. Naylor, to them both we are more than grateful.

Because of the preparations for the 'Mind Week' Exhibition which are well advanced in the Recreation hall, the concert was staged in the Church of England Church, and where better could a performance of such outstanding merit have been presented? The lofty arched roof reverberated in true response to perfect pitch and balance, and the result was sheer delight on the ear.

The Conductor, Chief Warrant Officer J.W. Stevenson of international reputation as a composer and arranger, had under his baton some 42 distinguished musicians, and how well they interpreted his glance, his gesture, and the slightest movement of his baton.

The varied programme included:

A Series of Marching Tunes
South Rampart Street Parade
Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey
St. Louis Blues March
Colonel Bogey
When the Saints Come Marching In
Washington Post

and concluding as one would expect with an inspiring rendering of the Stars and Stripes.

Those in the audience who have been well schooled in music and instrumentation, were at one in declaring that for technical excellence, depth of expression, and perfect harmonisation, the performance was one that will remain in recollection as a high spot of aesthetic satisfaction.

The only cause for regret was the size of the audience. Maybe due to the extremely short notice and consequent lack of publicity, the unusual hour of the concert and because of the fact that there are those who may have thought that the venue was suggestive of a religious service, many may have been deterred.

Although most of these factors were beyond our control, we apologise for them, as having limited to the few, a spectacle and a musical feast that could otherwise have been enjoyed by the many. Our hope is that should the band pay a return visit to Burtonwood at some future date they will honour us too as coming back among friends.

Whether this ultimately proves possible or not it in no way affects our present feelings of indebtedness, and we would like to acknowledge that indebtedness by thanking Colonel Vaughn, Chief Warrant Officer Stevenson, and the gentlemen of the band for their visitation, for a well devised programme and for a performance of outstanding merit.

E. Fox

Billiards and Snooker Results and Fixtures

Winwick Billiards team started the season on a winning note with a good win at Lockers on Tuesday 3rd October, running out 5 games to 2. It could be a good season for them, with the strong players they have in the side.

Both snooker teams are in division B, which will prove interesting when they meet. The first results on Thursday, 5th October were wins for both teams. Winwick A just won 5 games to 3 against St. Austins B, but the B team had a great win 7 - 1 at Alliance Box.

This week, however, was disastrous for Winwick Billiards and Snooker teams, the Billiards team went down at home 7 - 0 to St. Marys A. Both A & B Snooker teams lost 6 - 2. The B team at Winwick, the A team at Greenhalls.

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The Staff of Unit 7 would be grateful to accept such items as jewellery, cosmetics, toiletries, fancy goods etc., in order to provide individual presents for the patients on Christmas morning.

Would anyone who has anything of the above nature, for which they can no longer find a use, please hand it in to either Mrs. Barr or at the Charge Nurses Office M.8M.

D. Hamilton.

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Rehabilitation News: Starting

October. 1st was the date decided upon for the Rehabilitation Officer to begin his duties, this has now happened!

Access to the Rehabilitation Office is by the Recreation Hall door opposite the Mess Room. I hope to have a suitable notice to help in locating it soon.

The first phase in this work is to undertake a comprehensive survey of the patients' working situation and potential earning capacity. This information is required by the committee responsible for rehabilitation at Winwick Hospital.

The second phase, which will be running jointly with the first, is the establishing of a patients Labour Exchange. It is hoped that this project will be functioning in the near future.

From time to time I intend to keep you informed of our progress or lack of it.

Any comments or ideas will be most welcome.

J. A. Jolley
Rehabilitation Officer.

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Twelve Months Ago...

The Advice Section of the Report of the Hospital Advisory Service on Winwick Hospital, 1970 was printed in our pages....

Delph Hospital gave its views on The Standard and suggestions for improvement....

Further news from Delph came in the form of details of their winter social activities, and plans for the inception of the Stepping Stones Club...

Kathleen Appleton began a weekly review of events and happenings in the Social Therapy Dept...

The Standard missed an appearance, due to shortage of materials.

Publication Committee.

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Father Cadogan

On behalf of Winwick Hospital I would like to welcome Father David Cadogan as the new Parish Priest of St. Stephens and hope he will be happy in his new post.

Father Cadogan has worked in Liverpool, St. Helens, and for the past three years he has been in charge of Roman Catholic affairs in the new development area of Winstanley Highfield at Wigan.

Unfortunately since his arrival he has only been able to pay a flying visit to Winwick but he is very keen to get around and meet the patients and staff. He has certainly been thrown in at the deep end. Father Maguire was away on Monday and a few days after his arrival Father Quine had an accident. However, he is managing to keep his head above water and now that Father Maguire is back, things should improve.

Father Cadogan's induction as Parish Priest in on Tuesday October, 24th at 8.00 p.m.

On Sunday October 1st Father Vincent Quine was returning home on his bicycle after visiting friends, when he was the victim of a hit and run driver. He sustained severe head injuries and for several days was critically ill in the Intensive Care Unit of the Warrington Infirmary. He has improved slightly but is still seriously ill. I am sure you will join me in sending him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

M.T. Downey.

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A "Beat Night' is to be held at the Irish Club, on Wednesday, 8th November. Tickets 20p from Gerry Davin and Dave Pennington, resident staff. Proceeds for Charity.

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Friday, 13th was certainly unlucky for some of our patients one of whom was 65 years of age. They attended Mr. Johnson's clinic leaving Delph at approximately 3.00 p.m. Not having returned by 6.30 p.m, we phoned the clinic, only to find that it had just finished, and that the patients were waiting for transport back.

On phoning several different departments we were met with complete apathy. At 7.00 p.m. we were informed that transport was not available.

However, in the meantime the problem was solved by one of the student nurses who was not on duty at the time, using his own transport to bring them back.

One wonders if these patients would still be waiting if the student had not obliged.

D/C A. Yates, St/N M. Worrall
ST/N E. Allen P/N J. Hull
ST/N J. Adams P/N A. Potter

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Work Study Part 8 Methods of Productivity

How can we secure sufficiently increased productivity to ensure a steadily rising standard of living.

One way is to forge ahead as fast as we can with technical advances - to use more up to date machines and processes. This is why automation which combines a wide variety of technical improvements facilitating much greater output with less labour power, is so very important. It offers one very valuable and effective way of increasing productivity.

The fact is, however, that at present the technical advances that we have achieved have not been sufficient to raise productivity at a great enough rate to satisfy our desires for more goods and services, or to make it possible for us to export goods and services on a big enough scale to guarantee us a permanently stable external trade. We, therefore, have to look for other ways in addition to technical advances, of raising productivity.

Another way in which productivity can be increased is, of course, to make the workers work longer hours. This is a policy of diminishing returns. There is a definite limit to the extent to which longer hours can increase productivity, because beyond a certain point fatigue, carelessness and accidents automatically come into play if workers are overdriven.

The ultimate result of lengthening hours might well be not an increase in productivity but a decline in productivity, perhaps coupled with a deterioration in the quality of the product, and with other undesirable developments such as absenteeism, industrial unrest and so on. Lengthening the working day is, therefore, generally speaking, a path that must be rejected.

We have then, to find some other way to supplement the increases in productivity which the technical advances bring. The only other major way is the way indicated by work study, that is to say, the way of careful planning of production coupled with the maximum utilisation of the manpower, the mechanical power, and the materials available, and accompanied by the minimising of waste, stoppages, delays, bottlenecks, etc. In other words, we need to streamline our work organisation. This cannot be done effectively without some kind of semi-scientific study, such as only work study can provide, of the organisation.

Work study, as well as making possible increases in productivity on its own account, may be an indispensable adjunct to gaining increases in productivity by technical means. All too often a concern may not realise, without work study, that it could obtain great improvements by replacing much of its equipment by technically more advanced equipment. Further even if it does realise this, it may not appreciate, unless a work study is undertaken, that it can have the advantages of more advanced equipment at a lower cost than it thought likely, and that the expense of installation can be fairly quickly recovered because of the resultant economies.

J. Shaw

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We are sorry to hear of the serious accident involving Malcolm Muir, kitchen staff, last Saturday evening, his injuries are extensive, but he appears to be out of immediate danger.

Congratulations to P. Bigland, D. Brewer, D.G. Brewer, D. Evans, S.D. Fagan, A. Gorst, P.G. Hilton, I.M. Moolna, S. Oozeerally, J. Rimmer on passing the Intermediate Examinations of the G.N.C.

We have been informed that Mr. P.R. Ditchburn will commence duty with this group on lst December, as Chief Nursing Officer.

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