Contents -

Around the Hospital
Letters to the Editor
Round the N.H.S.
Nursing News

AROUND THE HOSPITAL

Union News C.O.H.S.E.

The Staff Side of the Nurses and Midwives' council has submitted a statement to the Pay Board in respect of pay for nurses and midwives on the basis of relativities with other classes.

Calling for 'an immediate and vide-ranging enquiry into the pay levels and pay structure of the nursing and midwifery professions', the statement asks for comparative examination of skill, responsibility and pay between nursing and a broad range of jobs inside and outside of the NHS.

The Staff Side feels that changes in the NHS have raised the scope of nursing and increased the demand for nursing work of high quality, and this has not been reflected in the salary levels. Also, levels of payment for work at socially inconvenient hours compare unfavourably with rates found in occupations outside the NHS, and are also much lower than rates for other groups within the Health Service.

The statement also calls for recognition that increases in nurses and midwives' pay are necessary if current manpower shortages - particularly of trained staff - are to be eliminated.

The case for an enquiry includes the present lack of a coherent pay structure covering all types of work and levels of responsibility in nursing. Furthermore, the developments occasioned by Salmon, Briggs and the integration of the NHS are bringing about changes in responsibilities without accompanying recognition of the implications for pay.

Salaries in the Re-organised NHS

The Negotiationg Committee or the Staff Side of the Nurses 'and Midwives' Council met representatives of the Management Side on August 21st, 1973 to further discuss salaries for senior nursing posts in the Re-organised NHS.

The Staff Side considered an improved offer and in particular relativities between the revised figures and improved salaries for administrative staff, which, it was understood, has been accepted.

In view of the wide differences remaining between the proposed pay of nurses and administrators at each level - £1,000 at the minimum level and over £2,500 at the maximum level - the Staff Side felt compelled to reject the revised offer as acceptance of such disparity would, in their view, have betrayed the principle of equality clearly set out in the Management Arrangements for the Re-organised NHS.

The Management Side explained that they were not authorised to improve on the new offer and they would therefore have to report the position to the Secretary of State.

They confirmed that the outcome of the meeting did not prejudice their offer of a thorough evaluation of the new posts not later than April 1975, though at this stage it was not possible to forecast the nature of the evaluation.

Branch Meeting, Tuesday 9th October 1973, at 9.00 p.m.

Items for Discussion:-

Staff Shortages
S.E.N.s
Ancillary Staff Pay Claim

B. McAuley
BRANCH SECRETARY.

Professional Hour

Mr. C. Evans, Fire Safety Officer, was the speaker at the monthly Professional Hour for Ward Sisters and Charge Nurses held in the In-Service Training Room on Thursday, September 20th.

The first part of the programme was a demonstration of the fire hazard presented by various items used on the wards. Obvious flammable materials were clothing, curtains and bedding, and Mr. Evans said that progress was being made in this area, in that flameproof curtains were now being supplied to wards as replacements became necessary. However the difficulty of supplying more flame-proofed items lay in the fact that laundering removed the flameproofing quality from the fabrics.

Less obvious fire risks were aerosols, glue and after-shave, whilst even such unlikely substances as steel wool, glycerine, cocoa and weed-killer proved capable of ignition in the right circumstances.

Following this demonstration, Mr. Evans went on to discuss the spate of mental hospital fires in this country, and how hospital authorities needed to ensure that up-to-date fire precautions were instituted in their hospitals. Winwick, he said, was generally better than other hospitals in the North West, although there was still work to be done.

Turning to the Coldharbour report, the Fire Officer quoted how the well-intentioned efforts to modernise large Victorian mental hospitals could result in tragedy, owing to the use of highly flammable building materials in constructing partitions, etc.

As Ward Sisters and Charge Nurses were responsible for the day-to-day safety of their patients, he said it was necessary for them to be aware of the fire hazards which could be present on their wards. These ranged from obstructed fire exits to ill-prepared staff and poor consultation between day and night nurses.

In the discussion which followed the audience agreed that no impediment should be placed in the way of ensuring that adequate fire precautions were maintained, and mention was made of the policy document on fire precautions which has recently been approved by the HMC.

PC

Found

In the Library Education Department Silver 'Yale' Type Key (with apologies to the Dominion Lock Co.,) no ring, tag or legible mark. Please call anytime between 9.00 a.m. and 5.15 p.m.

PC

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From Mr. Richardson, Chairman of the League of Friends of the Warrington Hospitals.

Mr. Richardson has recently returned from the A.G.M. of the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends. He congratulates the publications committee of the standard on their efforts and continues....

I feel that it will be of interest to you to know that at the recent Warrington League of Friends Annual Fete the receipts reached a new record, and for the first time we passed the £2,000 mark. The Fete was attended by Councillor B. Eaves, J.P. Chairman of the Warrington Hospital Management Committee, together with Mrs. Eaves, and numerous members of the H.M.C. The Opening Ceremony was performed by Mr. O. Davis, C.B.E., who was accompanied by Mrs. Davis. There was an excellent attendance and the final receipts indicate that all sections of the Fete were well supported. The Warrington Hospitals League of Friends Committee have received requests from the H.M.C. to engage in certain projects, the most urgent being the provision of resuscitation equipment for use at the Warrington Infirmary in view of the ever increasing numbers of major road accidents. The provision of additional ripple beds for use in the Geriatric Units has already been approved by the Committee, and it is expected that the question of expanding the vital work of providing more Personal Service activity in relation to the Geriatric Units and also for the patients accommodated in the Psychiatric Unit at the Warrington General Hospital, will be discussed at our next meeting.

The friendless and often lonely patients need all the help which voluntary workers can provide, for they must never be allowed to feel that they are unwanted. There is a place for every patient, and by our individual or collective efforts we are in a position to bring some measure of comfort and joy into their otherwise dull lives.

Kind regards to you all and continued success to 'The Standard'.

Yours sincerely,
J. RICHARDSON.

Letter of Thanks

Would you please, through the medium of the Standard, thank my many friends from all departments of the hospital, for the numerous beautiful gifts and flowers which were given to me on my retirement.

My leaving you all is not without a certain amount of sadness, as I have known so many of you for such a long time.

A special thankyou to Mrs. Middlefell for her kindness and consideration at all times.

Thankyou all once more.

MARY SHALVEY.

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ROUND THE N.H.S.

Staff Shortage at Whiston

Because of an acute shortage of physiotherapy staff at Whiston Hospital, outpatients are at present unable to receive treatment.

The normal complement of physiotherapy staff at the 2,000 bedded hospital is thirteen, but at present there are only two full-time and two part-time staff to cope with normal work.

The shortage of staff is not confined to Whiston, for the Liverpool RHB has about 100 vacancies for physiotherapists. Main reason for the shortage of staff, according to Mrs. Irene Boulton, spokesman for the local branch of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, is the unattractive salaries paid to practitioners and teachers in the profession. 80% of staff had a weekly take home pay of £15.58, and, after seven years training, lecturers were paid less than school teachers who were on the Burnham pay scale.

PC

Wrightington Centre Opens

The £7,000 rehabilitation centre at Wrightington Hospital was recently handed over to the Hospital Management Committee by Mr. Leonard Fairclough, President of the League of Friends.

The centre, paid for by the League of Friends, will be named after a former HMC chairman, Mr. Harry Greenwood.

PC

Rainhill Survey on Hospital Visiting

A survey carried out at Rainhill Hospital has revealed that over 1,000 of their patients have received no visitors in the past two years.

Figures were demanded by officials at the hospital who are pressing for community involvement in mental health. The Voluntary Help Organiser, Mr. Charles Gordon has drawn up proposals backed by the HMC, tc form a junior League of Friends. This would be Rainhill's method of encouraging young people to come into the hospital and form friendships with lonely patients, and the existing League of Friends has also given the go-ahead to the plan.

Hospitals need more Volunteer Aid - RHB Report

A working party set up by the East Anglian RHB has recommended that HMC's should urgently consider the need to provide more voluntary help organisers.

The working party, chaired by the secretary to the East Anglian RHB, says that the organisation of voluntary help in hospitals must now be accepted by the professional as an extension of the range of services to the patient.

The report says that voluntary help, 'while not necessarily being directly associated with health care can make an important contribution to the patient's well-being, and comprehensive community service after 1974.

Fulbourn Hospital appointed the first VHO in the country in 1963, but the pioneering spirit does not seem to have been sustained in the region. At present there are only eight VHO's in post.

Calling for urgent action in the organised expansion and deployment of VHO's and adequate supporting staff, the report criticises the scarcity of hospital-based VHO's in the region and remarks that 'in general where there is no VHO in post, the organisation of voluntary help seems to be the responsibility of the group/hospital secretary or the senior nursing staff, or a combination of the two.'

Most local health authorities felt that the amount of voluntary assistance was insufficient, particularly in the field of helping elderly people.

The East Anglian report stresses that staff in all levels must be consulted at all stages, both in the making of appointments of VHO's and recruiting volunteers. 'Only in this way can misunderstanding be avoided and a climate of good will between paid and voluntary workers be engendered which will not only result in improving patient care and the well-being of the patient but also enhance the role of-the professional staff.'

PC

Doing Nicely

Some news this week of nursing; who have left Winwick some time ago. Eddy Newall, who gained his RMN as a post-registration student here now has the Diploma in Nursing (Part B) and has entered the Teaching Department at Whiston Hospital, with a view to becoming a Nurse Tutor.

Brian Footitt now has his SRN certificate, and, together with John Butler, who also gained his RMN here, is going to a new post at Bolton, where Townleys Branch Hospital, in conjunction with the Local Authority, is commencing a community nursing scheme, in anticipation of 1974 integration.

PC

Archery

Ever Wanted To Try Archery Well Here Is Your Chance.

Beginners Course - Archery - September 1973

The Merseyside Hospital Archery Club is to hold a Course of six lessons for members of staff, families and friends, who are interested in this individual, competitive sport.

To explain the Course programme, objectives, etc., a meeting was held within the Gladstone Hall at Woolton Manor Nurses Home on TUESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER,

The Course Fee will be £1.00 for the six lessons which are planned to take place at Woolton Manor Sports Field on SUNDAYS, 12.00 - 14.30 hours. COMMENCING 30th SEPTEMBER.

ALL NECESSARY EQUIPMENT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE COURSE

C. T. Biskerton,
Hon. Secretary,
Merseyside Hospitals Archery Club,
Sefton General Hospital.

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NURSING NEWS

On Tuesday 2nd October, 1973, a party of nursing and medical personnel from the Rehabilitation Unit will visit a similar unit at Whittingham Hospital.

On Thursday 4th October, 1973, Mr. H.A. Stokes, Night Superintendent, will he the guest speaker at the ''Professional Hour", to be held at 2.30 p.m.

The subject of Mr. Stokes' talk will be "Communication Between Day and Night Staff".

PC

Welcome to:-

Mrs. G. A. O'Dowd - Staff Nurse
Mr. R. Ramanah - Pre-student

Farewell to:-

Sister Shalvey
Mrs. B. Powell - A.D.W.S.
Mrs. M. Terretta - T/SN
Miss S. Woods - (Holiday Employment).

Technical Nursing Library

New books available on loan -

'The Development of Behaviour' - W.W. Woodward
'Psychology for Nurses' - Jarvis & Gibson
'Nursing in Child Psychiatry' - C. M. Fagin
'A Nurse's Guide to the X-Ray Department' - M. Goldman

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