Contents -

Re - "I'm Alright Jack"
Miscellany
Around the Hospital
Poems
A Few Fire Thoughts
Nursing News

I'M ALRIGHT JACK

Not having been fortunate enough to have the experience 'in the way of years' as Mr. Breslin, I can only talk about the time that I have been at this Hospital 6 years - during that time I have seen changes - many, and for the better; not as many as one would like but then - whoever attains perfection in our work? We can only strive for it and in the meantime do the best with what we have personally if in that time I considered that my 'Bourgeois Masters' were assigning me a major role in the dehumanisation of patients, I could no longer stay. In fact, I can't see how Mr. Breslin, if he really believes that, can accept his pay.

I note with interest that these 'aliens' in our country, who seem to enjoy knocking it, only become aliens when doing so, but do not complain when enjoying the same rights and privileges as we 'Patriots'.

Edith White

If, as "I'm alright Jack" says and admits he is an alien, which for some unknown reason we soft British do not say they are, the "Bogs" must be a haven of rest and luxury not just for patients but for himself included.

This self-opinionated article must have been written with the author's tongue in cheek; progress is forward not backward. Our colleagues, doctors, solicitors etc., only become our bourgeois masters and elite when we ourselves suffer from an inferiority complex.

Education is a great leveller and your arguments in relation to class distinction do not hold. As you well know Hospital Management is made up of non-class managers.

So. Comrade Alient, throw your Encyclopaedia Britannica away, come off your high donkey, take off your dark glasses, look at things in perspective and in a more logical way and then more than likely we will all be friends - bourgeois masters, patients and staff alike.

Arthur Horrocks

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MISCELLANY

For Sale

1968 Fiat 500 c.c,, factory maintained.
M.O.T. 11 months, taxed till May.
£240.00 ONO

Box No. 10

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AROUND THE HOSPITAL

Drug Information Service

Parts 2 and 5 of the Regional Drug Information bulletins have now been received,

Part 2 deals exclusively with Amoxycillin.

Part 5 deals with a number of topics, including adverse effects due to Paracetamol, Benorylate, Erythromycin, Estolate and I.M. injections of Digoxin.

H. Taberner

NHS Reorganisation Act 1973: Proposals for implementation in England

This circular notifies authorities of the passing of the NHS Reorganisation Act 1973, and outlines the arrangements for bringing the Act into operation. It relates to England, a separate circular will be issued in Wales.

1. The NHS Reorganisation Act 1973 has received the Royal Assent and will soon be published. Authorities are invited to obtain the copies they need from Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and Joint Liaison Committees are asked to ensure that copies are obtained for the new authorities when they are appointed.

2. A Circular is being prepared for issue to the new authorities when they are established outlining the statutory framework of the reorganised Service. Transitional arrangements for dealing with transfer of staff, property and endowments and with other matters on which action will be needed in advance of the main appointed day, will continue to be covered by separate circulars in the HRC series.

Commencement

3. Section 58 of the new Act sets out the provisions that came into operation at Royal Assent. Other provisions (and some provisions within the section brought into force at Royal Assent) will come into force on days appointed by order. As already announced the main appointed day will be 1st April 1974 when the reorganisation of local government is also to take place. The Health Service Commissioner provisions, in their application to present hospital authorities and Executive Councils, will be brought into operation at an earlier date. This date is still under consideration and separate advice will be given.

4. The provisions which came into force at Royal Assent are in the main those which are needed to get the new administrative structure established and ready to take over responsibility for the reorganised service. They include:-

a.	the duty on the Secretary of State, to arrange for the reorganisation of the NHS (section1)
b.	the provisions establishing the new health authorities,(section 5,6,7 and Schedule 1) and enabling them to employ staff (paras 10 and 11 of Schedule 1)
c.	the provision for recognition of local advisory committees and for establishment of Community Health Councils and machinery for collaboration with local authorities (sections 8,9 and 10)
d.	sections 14 and 15, which provide for the abolition of existing health service authorities, except for certain preserved Boards of Governors of postgraduate teaching hospitals (the actual abolition will not take place until the main appointed day, but the order-making power has been brought into operation in advance, so that if necessary provision can be made in anticipation of the abolition under section 14 (2)
e.	provision for transfer of property and staff sections 16-20 have been brought into operation in advance of the main appointed day, so that the necessary orders can be made and machinery established in readiness for transfer on 1st April 1974
f.	certain provisions relating to hospital endowment: the new authorities will, as soon as they are established, have power to accept gifts (section 21) steps will be taken in advance of the main appointed day to wind up the hospital endowments fund (section 23) machinery will be established for the transfer of trust property, with the actual transfers taking place on the main appointed day (sections 24-26 29 and 30)
g.	the early retirement provisions of section 44
h.	compensation for loss of rights to sell medical practices (section 51)
i.	other provisions which are consequential on, or are necessary to supplement the main provisions outlined above (including the financial provisions of sections 47-49)

5. Where preparatory action before 1st April 1974 is needed in connection with provisions which will not come into force until that date, for example to ensure continuity of service at the main appointed day, the Secretary of State will where necessary direct health authorities to undertake it on his behalf as part of his duty under Section 1 to arrange for the reorganisation of the NHS.

6. on 1st April 1974, existing National Health Service authorities (except for London postgraduate Boards of Governors which are temporarily to be preserved under s.15) will be dissolved. The Secretary of State will become responsible for the integrated health service to be provided under the National Health Service Acts 1946 to 1973, notably under section 1 of the 1946 Act and sections 2-4 of the 1973 Act. Regional and Area Health Authorities and Family Practitioner Committees will then take over their functions in administering the health service. (These functions will in part be conferred directly on them by the NHS Acts but in the main they will be allocated to them by regulations or directions under section 7 of the 1973 Act).

7. The only special health authority which is at present proposed for England will be that which is to take over the function of the Joint Pricing Committee for England - (also on 1st April).

Subordinate Legislation

8. The 1973 Act, like its predecesdors, provides for much of the detailed statutory provision to be contained in orders and regulations which will be made by statutory instrument in the period leading up to 1st April 1974. The Appendix to this memorandum sets out the main matters on which it is proposed to make statutory instruments, together with the approximate .timetable envisaged. Advice on these subjects will also he issued.

9. Any inquiries about this circular should be addressed to HSO Division, Alexander Fleming House.

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POEMS

A  C R A B B I T  O L D  W O M A N  W R O T E
T H I S
WHAT do you see, nurses, what do you see?
Are you thinking, when you're looking at me -
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice - "I do wish you'd try."
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill.
Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?
Then open your eyes nurse, you're not looking at me.
I'll tell who I am, as I sit here so still,
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten, with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty, my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home.
A women of thirty, my young are now growing fast.
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone.
But my man is beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more babies play round my knee
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own
And I think of the years and the 1ove that I've known
. I'm an old women now, and nature is cruel,
'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigour depart,
There is now a stone, where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcase a young girl still dwells
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few - gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurses, open and see
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer,
- SEE ME.

WHEN THE OLD LADY DIED IN THE GERIATRIC WARD OF A LARGE HOSPIAL, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT SHE LEFT NOTHING OF ANY VALUE. THEN THE NURSE GOING THROUGH HER POSSESSIONS FOUND THIS POEM. THE QUALITY OF THE POEM SO IMPRESSED THE STAFF THAT COPIES WERE DUPLICATED AND DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY NURSE: THE OLD LALDY'S ONLY REQUEST TO POSTERITY.

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A FEW FIRE THOUGHTS

First Insure Right Extinguisher

First Inclinations Remember Examine

For Injury Results Explain

Fire Investigate Remedy Errors

Fight Impediments Regarding Exit

D.F.O.

NURSING NEWS

The following nurses have been successful in the recent examinations for the mental part of the Register of the General Nursing Council.

ALLEN, E.E.
ERRIGADOO, C.M.
GYENIN, P.B.
PRESCOTT, D.L.
RIMMER, C.W.
SUTCH, E.D.

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