Editorial Comment

It would be dishonest not to refer to continued press coverage of this Hospital's lack of a future.

We understand that what has been written stems, more or less accurately, from Regional Board releases. This may be the way to inform an uncritical public. It isn't the way to tell us.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

I would like you to publish this letter of thanks on my behalf to the Kitchen Staff for their gifts and cards after my accident on the 14th of last month.

I would also like to thank the Reverend P. Nunn and Dr. Davis for their visits, as they were appreciated.

Thank You.

MALCOLM MUIR
(Assistant Cook)

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A further thank you is given to the Electrical. Department for the cleaning of the lights and fittings. Also to the porters for the cleaning of the floor after the re-decorating.

A personal thank you to the staff of the Sewing Room and patients, for getting everything back into working order again.

F.M. COLLIER,
Act. Sewing Mistress.

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WORK STUDY - Part 13

Work Measurement

The objective of work measurement is.., "the application of techniques designed to establish the time for a qualified worker to carry out a specified job at a defined level of performance". The most commonly used procedure for this purpose is time study, but other systems, such as as synthetic time values, predetermined time systems and analytical estimating, have. been developed from time study. In addition, activity sampling, based upon statistical sampling methods, is used. All these techniques are helpful to management in providing information about productivity ratios, costing, and manpower requirements as well as for the better-known purpose of establishing data for payment by results.

Work measurement is concerned with investigating, reducing, and subsequently eliminating ineffective time, that is, time during which no effective work is being performed, whatever its cause, and to provide management with a means of measuring the time taken in the performance of an operation or series of operations in such a way that ineffective time is shown up and can be separated from effective time. In this way its existence, nature and extent become known where previously they were concealed within the total. Once the existence of ineffective time has been revealed and the reasons for it tracked down, steps can usually be taken to reduce it.

Here work measurement has a second role to play. Not only can it reveal the existence of ineffective time; it can also be used to set standard times for the performance of work, so that if any ineffective does creep in later on it will immediately be shown up as an excess over the standard time and will thus be brought to the attention of the management.

While method study is used to reveal the shortcomings of design, material and method of manufacture, and, as such, affects mainly technical people, work measurement is more likely to show up management itself and the behaviour of the work people, and because of this it is apt to meet with far greater resistance than method study. Nevertheless, if the efficient operation of the enterprise as a whole is being sought, the application of work measurement, properly carried out, is one of the best means of achieving it.

It is unfortunate that work measurement and, in particular, time study, its principal technique, have in the past acquired a bad reputation, especially in trade union circles. This is because in many early applications it was directed almost exclusively to reducing the ineffective time within the control of the operatives by setting standards of performance for them, while the ineffective time within the control of management was virtually ignored. The causes of ineffective time over which management has some control are much more numerous than those which lie within the direct control of the workers. Furthermore, experience has shown that, if causes of ineffective time such as holdups due to lack of raw materials or to plant breakdowns are allowed to go on without real efforts being made to eliminate them, operatives will tend to get discouraged and slack, and workers ineffective time will increase. This is only to be expected the attitude taken by the workers is, quite simply, "Well, if we are going to be stopped from doing our jobs by something which we can do nothing about and which it is the management's job to put right, why should we work harder? Let the management put its house in order first". It is an argument that can hardly be countered.

Just as method study should precede work measurement in any reorganisation that takes place, so must the elimination of ineffective time due to management's shortcomings precede any attack on the ineffective time within the control of the workers. Indeed, the mere fact of reducing the. hold-ups and stoppages within the control of the management will tend to reduce the waste of time by the operatives, because they will find themselves faced with proper supplies of work and materials, and will have the general feeling that management is "on its toes". This will in itself have a beneficial effect without the application of incentive schemes or any form of coercion.

J. SHAW.

SOCIAL THERAPY REVIEW W/E 19.11.72.

The annual bazaar is to be held this year on Thursday, December 7th in the Female Gym. As always, we will be very grateful for any clothes or bric-a-brac that any of you have finished with. We hope that it will be as successful as last year and it won't be for the want of trying. As usual there will be a ladies and gents clothing stall, jewellery and cosmetics, books and bric-a-brac and lucky dip with, we hope, Santa Claus.

Last Thursday, 16th November, the football team had a match which was played at home, against Prestwich Hospital. Winwick lost by 4 goals to 1. Even though it rained through most of the match everyone said how much they'd enjoyed it.

The much awaited musical Variety Show is at last to take place on Saturday, 25th November. There will be two performances. The first at 2.30 p.m. which is mainly for the older patients. Members of the League of Friends will be on hand to help with the collection of patients and we hope that they will all be ready in their seats by 2.20 p.m. at the very latest. There will be no Social Therapy Staff in duty in the hall as they will all be busy on or behind the stage. The evening performance will take place at 7.00 p.m. and is mainly for parole patients. Visitors are being invited to both performances as well as any staff who wish to attend. We would be most grateful if everyone would be in their seats at the very ]east 10 minutes before the beginning of each performance.

K. APPLETON,
(pp. Social Therapy)

THE NAMING OF THE WARDS.

Mr. French, the Hospital Secretary, attended the last meeting of the Publications Committee, which became in effect the final sieve through which the entries for this Competition were passed before reaching the Hospital Management Committee for a final decision. The variety and colourfulness of the entries will certainly pose difficult judging problems. The Publications Committee submitted a composite scheme which incorporated some of the best ideas we saw. It will not, of course, be eligible for a prize.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

MATERIAL FOR THE STANDARD.

For some time now we have encouraged contributors to contact any member of the Publications Committee (whose names appear inside the front cover) when they have articles to submit, and in particular to leave them on Mr. Bruton's desk in the Library at any time.

We wish to draw your attention to the fact that you can also ring the Library (224) between 9 and 12, and between 1 and 2, with advance information regarding contributions, with queries, or with any news or views which you feel would or should be of interest.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

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UNION NEWS QUERY.

With reference to the Disco to be held in Winwick Social Club on 30th November, we have been informed by Mr. Poulson, a member of the Social Club Committee that proper application was made and they were happy to grant the facilities. An error on posters advertising the function has been corrected to everyone's satisfaction. In view of this, the Secretary of NALGO has been quite happy to withdraw his protest.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

CAN YOU HELP US?

If you do wash woollen garments, or acrilan jumpers, or cardigans made from nylon or Terylene or Rayon, please don't use Persil, Oxydol or any washing powder or soap flakes. These contain bleach and soda. Try using "Stergene" or "Lissopol" or some similar product in liquid form, Add a cup full of salt to two gallons of water and dissolve well before immersing garments in the solution. Rinse well, and add clear vinegar to the final rinse.

The colours will have less chance of running the next time we wash them for you.

Thanks,

THE LAUNDRY STAFF.

THANK YOU

Anne and Ivan Footitt wish to thank Staff for their good wishes on the recent occasion of the birth of their son.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH INCOME TAX?

In October, many staff received notification of an increase in the amount of their superannuation payments. The 4% increase means an extra 75p for each £100 of salary. Have you informed your local Tax Office of the increased amount of superannuation which you now pay annually? If not, you will be paying more than you need to the Inland Revenue Department. It's only a couple of pounds annually, but.... it's your money.

This would be a suitable time for those staff whose salaries have increased since they last received a tax return to assess their annual superannuation payments. Increases in these payments do not automatically ensure a corresponding adjustment in the tax relief on these payments. Thus, staff who receive an annual increment should notify their Tax Office each year that their superannuation payments have increased. If you have not done so for several years you will be paying out more than necessary.

If requested, your Tax Office will also assess previous years' tax, and if you have overpaid will refund the excess.

D. McKENDRICK.

CHESS CLUB NEWS

The season is now in full swing, and in view of the strength of the opposition our results have been quite encouraging. Our opening match, against Runcorn and Widnes 'B', ended decisively in our favour 42 - 12. These scores were reversed, however, against YMCA, who have now G. Parsonage as their Board 1 - making them a very powerful side indeed.

Having to travel a man short to Frodsham left us with quite a job, as this team were second to Winwick in the Second Division last year. We went down 2 - 4, which was always probable in view of our handicap.

Our first match in the LRHB League resulted in a very easy win against Rainhill 4 - 1. As they were fielding their strongest five this was a good result.

Thanks to the money which the Management Committee voted the Club for new and better chessmen we now have six good sets. These were in use in a match for the first time against Rainhill - valuable practice for them.

R. BRUTON,
Hon. Sec. WHCC.

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SPECIAL OCCASION

One of our people in Ward 10, Mr. Carson informs us, has received a letter from Buckingham Palace in reply to his message of Silver Wedding congratulations

He has asked us not to publish his name, but we can certainly publicise the occasion.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

CLUB NEWS

BILLIARDS FIXTURES

Tuesday, November 28th, 1972.

Winwick Hospital - No match.

Results: Winwick Hospital 1 - St. Austins 6

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SNOOKER FIXTURES

Thursday, November 30th, 1972.

Winwick B v. St. Mary's
   Newton v. Winwick A.

RESULT - November 16th, 1972.

Winwick B 5 v. Winwick A 3

P. HASTRY

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The long awaited snooker clash between Winwick A and 3 Teams took place on the 16th, and fulfilled all expectations. With both teams at full strength the lead changed hands several times, and finally everything depended on the last frame. R. Peake, for the B. Team had to pull back a points deficit as well as win the frame. Two early breaks put the pressure on W. Foy, and the B. team finally ran out winners 5 - 3, in what had been a most exciting match.

WELCOME TO: Mrs. E. Moorhouse N/A

On Friday, 1st December, 26 Nurses from Whiston Hospital will be visiting the hospital.

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