Editorial Comment

We are pleased to discover that the judging of the entries for the Poetry Competition, run by the Social Therapy Department, is well advanced. Naturally we shall publish details, (and the winning entry, perhaps?) as soon as we receive them.

All we can do in the case of the Naming of the Wards Competition is to chart its progress, by drawing together all the available references to it. Shortage of space has forced us to hold this over till next week.

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Social Therapy Review

With reference to the Kentucky Minstrels Show. This week we received a most encouraging letter from Mr. Stanget, Recreational Officer from Mary Dendy and Cranage Hall hospitals, who were invited to watch. The letter read:- "Will you please extend to all concerned our appreciation and sincere thanks for a most enjoyable evening. Apart from the obvious pleasure to our patients I feel that this type of social integration can do nothing but good."

This letter is self-explanatory!

During Mind Week we feel that Social Therapy department was fairly successful for two reasons, one that visitors to the stand who were told about the department went away surprised that so much recreational activity took place within the hospital and with, we hope, a clearer understanding of our problems. Secondly, and perhaps most encouraging, the interest of the younger people, many of whom have joined us as voluntary workers.

As it is the beginning of the net-ball season I thought that we might try to revive interest of the hospital staff team. If we don't join the League, it might be possible to arrange friendly matches and finish with a tournament. A meeting will be arranged for all those who are interested and the date will be published next week. Until then, at least give it some consideration.

K. Appleton.

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Letters to the Editors

Looking back over past editions. of The Standard it is not hard to see why it is slowly, in my opinion, dying the death. Every week we get someone writing in praising someone or something about the hospital. I'm sure by now we all have our own opinions about how good or bad our hospital is. Therefore, I think 'the time has come to speak of many things'. like

Spending money on a cold, wet day,
Going to town for monthly pay.
Like why we wait so long for house repairs,
When the rent we pay is never in arrears.
Like why the new pavilion stood so still,
It was, I'm sure, against most every will.
Now I could go on like this all day,
But I'm hoping other folk will have their say.

If I may put what I'm trying to say into two short lines (not too crude I hope),

Don't be dull;
Don't print bull.

F. Carroll

'Can you help us?'

Sheets and linen are better washed when opened out. Save yourself work, and help us, by sending sheets and linen to the Laundry unfolded.

We have special processes for washing and ironing Nylon, Terylene, Crimplene and wool related mixtures. We do enjoy doing the new coloured shirts. Please help us to maintain our pride in this type of work. It does upset us when we receive these garments for 'Thermal disinfection.'*

Laundry Staff.

*Thermal disinfection is the severe process used for foul linen.

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The ward is one place where nursing and ancillary duties overlap to some degree.

Would it be a retrograde step if ward maids reverted to being part of 'ward teams' under the auspices of Head of Nursing Services?

What do the nurses and the wardmaids think?

E. Miller

A woman's hair is said to be her crowning glory, but how far does this extend to our patients? The majority still appear to have the same style which was fashionable in Charles Dickens' time. If this is the way they want it, then well and good, but surely modern cutting and styling would help their appearance and deal another blow to the institutional image.

B. Leigh

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The next meeting of the Winwick Branch of the Confederation of Health Service Employees will be held on Monday, 6th November at 8.00 p.m. in the in-service training room. All members are asked to attend. Among the items for discussion are details of the coming social evening for Branch Members.

B. McAuley.

Club News

Billiards and Snooker Fixtures November 7th,
Tuesday. Billiards - Alliance Box v. Winwick 7.00 p.m.

Thursday November 9th Snooker
Winwick A. v. St. Mary's A. 7.30 p.m. start

British Railways, v. Winwick B.
At St. Mary's Wednesday 8th November 7.30 p.m.

Results

Winwick B 6, St. Austins R.L. 2
Winwick A had no match last week.

Billiards

Winwick 2, Deaf Social 5.

P. Hastry

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Photographic Club News

Do you have a simple camera? Would you like to improve your holiday snaps? Would you like to take better pictures than you have been doing? If so come along to the visiting room on Monday 13th November, at 8.00 p.m., when the photographic club have a 'simple camera evening'. We will show you how to take better pictures and how to get the most from your camera, whether it's an instamatic or box brownie. If you have any picture taking problems bring them along and we will try to solve them too!

Do come along and bring a friend, its absolutely free and you can have a cup of tea as well.

D. Latham

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League of Friends of Winwick Hospital

Because so many people were disappointed this year at not being able to attend the League of Friends Ball in February, arrangements have been made to hold two identical dances at which Victor Silvester Junior and the Victor Silvester Orchestra will play, one on Wednesday, 31st January, 1973 and one on Thursday, 1st February, 1973. Tickets have been ordered and will be available in two weeks time from League Members, or the Secretarial Department, Hollins House.

Mrs. Emson, of the League of Friends, would like any old jewellery or odd beads, bright buttons etc., to make small gifts for the patients for Christmas. Anything of this nature that you may have and have no use for can be left at the Secretarial Department, Hollins House, and these will be forwarded to Mrs. Emson.

League of Friends.

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Staff Telephone Calls to the Hospital

In an effort to achieve a quicker answering service by the Winwick telephone switchboard operators to members of the staff wishing to contact the hospital from home, especially appropriate to staff reporting sickness, etc., I suggest, rather than use the first five consecutive phone numbers, Warrington 33381 - 5, staff use the three alternative lines, 36415 - 7 and thus minimise the understandable frustration recently experienced by some members of staff.

R. French

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Unit 5 - East Wing

Mr. Eric Critchley and staff of East Wing would like to thank the relatives of the late Mrs. Lizzie Merrony for their generous gift of a new record player to the ward. The relatives wish the gift to be a token of appreciation for the care Mrs. Merrony received whilst in our hospital.

Publications Committee.

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Work Study

Working Conditions The first thing to do in attempting to improve methods of work in a factory or elsewhere is to ensure that the conditions under which the workers have to perform their tasks are such that they can do so without strain.

Productivity can often be increased simply by improving the working conditions, before method study techniques are applied, after all, it is little use, making elaborate investigations into the improvement of working methods if lighting is so bad that operatives have to strain their eyes to see what they are doing or if the atmosphere is so hot and humid, or so charged with noxious fumes that they have constantly to go into the open air to refresh themselves. Not only is time lost in this manner but an excessive amount of bad work is caused which means waste of material and loss of output.

Bad working conditions are uneconomic and improvements, often quite small can produce marked increases in productivity. Method study and work measurement applied to a single operation may bring about a 100% increase in productivity - for that operation. The extent to which this affects the productivity of the shop as a whole depends on the number of operations, working on similar jobs and how long the job lasts, but it may mean an overall rise of only a fraction of a percent. Improved lighting, ventilation or heating may easily result in an immediate increase for the whole shop of 5%. It takes a lot of work study to produce a 5% rise in a large shop on varied work!

Physical working conditions depend on many factors; the site of the building, the type of construction, layout, ventilation, temperature, lighting, sanitation, the nature of the floors and stairs, equipment installed etc.

Detailed discussion of the siting and construction of buildings is out of place here, since to change them, if they are unsatisfactory involves considerable capital expenditure. I am concerned primarily with the conditions which surround the worker as he does his job, conditions that affect his physical well-being and thus, his efficiency as a producer.

By taking this view, sight is not, lost of the fact that he is a human being first and foremost, and a producer second that his working efficiency is so much affected by the environment in which he has to work. Unhealthy and unhappy workers doing their jobs under conditions of physical or mental strain, are inefficient producers, unlike machines, which are relatively indifferent to their surroundings.

Cleanliness is the first requirement for healthy workers and one which usually costs little to fulfil, It is essential that all work, shops and rooms, passages and staircases should be kept in a sanitary condition.

Good lighting; speeds production, it is essential to the health and comfort of the workers without it eye damage will occur, accidents and spoilage of material will increase and productivity will slow down.

General ventilation is required for the health and comfort of the workers, and is therefore a factor in their efficiency. Excessively high or low temperature and inadequate ventilation reduce productivity through sickness, discomfort and lowered vitality of the workers.

Noise is also a factor of importance in relation to the efficiency of workers, it is a frequent cause of fatigue, irritation and loss of output.

The prevention of accidents must be tackled by eliminating possible causes, technical and human, the means of doing so are varied and include compliance with technical regulations and standards, a high level of supervision and maintenance, the fostering of good industrial relations, care for the workers health and welfare, training of all members of the establishment to observe safety regulations and safe practices, posting warning notices and using distinctive colours to draw attention to objects likely to prove dangerous.

The subject of working conditions should not be closed without some reference to fire risk. The prevention of fires is primarily a matter of proper training of all concerned and the strict enforcement of fire prevention regulations. Prevention is always better than cure, but the provision of adequate extinguishers and other appliances, maintained in good condition is essential and that staff should be properly instructed in the parts they are to play in the event of an outbreak.

J. Shaw

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Staff Retirement Miss A. Horrigan (Senior Housemaid) retires from the Hospital Service on Tuesday 31st October, 1972 after 29 years service.

Miss Horrigan commenced employment at Winwick Hospital in February, 1943 and has been Senior Housemaid at the Nurses Home and other Staff Quarters. She has been a popular figure among the Nursing and Resident staff at Winwick Hospital and no doubt many a young student has sought her advice on occasions. She has been a good and efficient member of the Hospital Staff.

Contributions have been collected towards a Testimonial on Retirement for her from Nursing Staff, Dining Room Staff, Staff, Domestic Staff and other members at Winwick Hospital, the sum of £6.70 has been handed to Miss Horrigan, (at her request) and she proposes to purchase a suitable useful present, to give her a constant reminder of the happy years and the comradeship of colleagues she has enjoyed at Winwick Hospital. Her colleagues at the Nurses Home have also contributed towards a special present for her.

To Miss Horrigan we say 'Au Revoir', but not 'Good bye', call in and see us at any tine, we wish her the Best of Health and enjoyment in a long retirement.

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It was with great regret that we heard of the sudden illness of Deputy Sister A. Smythe, who was on duty at Delph at the time. Our latest information is that she is continuing to improve steadily. She has our best wishes for a complete recovery.

Publications Committee

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Welcome to:

Miss C. Mannion	Nursing Assistant
Mrs. A. Mason	Nursing Assistant.

Farewell to:

A. Holt	Deputy Ward Sister
L. Sweeting	S.E.N.
P. Calvert	Pupil Nurse
J. Malee	Nursing Assistant
C.L. Frith	Nursing Assistant (Social Therapy)
C.A. Kirkman	T. Staff Nurse
E. Vernon	T.S.E.N.
R. Anderson	T.S.E.N.
M. Smith	T. Nursing Assistant
M. Donnellon	D.C.N. (Night Duty)
Mrs. J. Massey	Shorthand Typist in Secretarial Department, Hollins House

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