LETTERS
El
this issue and ashamed by the
behaviour of some members
towards the representatives
from the Lesbian Nurses
Group.
Can it be that while we are
eager to stride forwards with
Project 2000 yet we are overtly
complacent to step backwards
to racial and sexual inequality
and victimisation?
RCN Steward
FAREWELL
INVITATION
Lesley Pemberton
Mrs Anna Biczo (nee Hauk) will
be retiring from Oldham
School of Nursing on August
1988. She began her nurs­
ing career in 1951, as a student
nurse at North Manchester
General Hospital (Crumpsall),
then undertook midwifery
training in Manchester and
Worthing. Following this, she
did a Neurosurgical Nursing
Course in Edinburgh and retur­
ned to North Manchester in
1957. Mrs Biczo has worked in
the Oldham School of Nursing
since 1965, the last 18 years as
Senior Tutor.
A warm invitation is ex­
tended to any friends, former
colleagues, students or pupils
who will be able to attend her
retirement day. This will be be­
tween 2.00pm and 3.30pm on
Friday, August 12, at Oldham
PSchool of Nursing. Anyone
who would like to contribute to
a retirement gift, please con­
tact Mr G Foy, Director of
Nurse Education, Oldham
General Hospital, Rochdale
Road, Oldham OL1 2JH.
Nurse Tutor.
COVERING IN
SURREY
Jill Burton
We are compiling a register of
SRN/RGNs, plus SENs with
some experience of nursing in
general practice.
We would like to hear from
any of your readers who are
based in the Surrey area and
who would be interested in do­
ing locum work to cover during
holidays, sick leave, etc.
Surrey Practice Nurse Group.
0:
4-al
"we've plenty of
BIRTH RESEARCH
Diane Barlow
I am a Student Midwife con­
ducting research called 'Birth
Plans; the parents choice.' If
any readers have any experi­
ence or views of their own I
would be most grateful if they
could forward it me at;
Peterborough Maternity Unit,
Alderman's Drive,
Peterborough,
Cambs.
SILENCE ON
GRIFFITHS
Joe Sheridan
'Community Care-agenda for
action' or Griffiths mark two
prompted me to organise a
conference, thinking that
nurses would need a forum to
discuss the issues raised. The
fee was £10 per delegate,
which is not overly expensive
as far as conferences go. But
we had such a disappointing
response, (only 26 people ap­
plied) that it had to be
cancelled.
It concerns me that this
should happen when Griffiths
is proposing such wide-
sweeping changes to the way
the community services are
provided.
I have also written to a
Mi
f?eps, it's tkouets we’re
number of key people in mental
illness, mental handicap and
care of the elderly fields asking
for their views on the subject.
The main reason for this was to
gather information from the
members in order that the col­
lege could put those views for­
ward. I have received one
phone call. Why is there such
apathy?
Perhaps people have their
own channels of commu­
nication? It seems that some­
one ought to speak out. How
can we respond adequately on
behalf of nurses if there is no­
thing but silence?
Despite this, I would be
happy to hear from anyone
with points or suggestions they
would like to raise.
RCN Regional Officer,
South West Thames.
THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE COIN
Mark English
I read with growing interest
your articles on the recruitment
of student nurses, mainly be­
cause if I had seen what I have cannot work out a rota for one
come to see in seven months of
training I would never have
entered nurse education.
Medical and nursing staff j petty point scoring rather than
prescribe and administer medi­
cines and treatment costing
NURSING STANDARD, week ending June 25, 1988
LETTER
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hundred of thousands of
pounds, while only a few
streets from my room people
cannot afford the correct diet to
stay healthy. Or have not the
knowledge to do so.
Perhaps there is truth in the
argument that poverty and ill
health exist to a large extent to
provide middle class people
like you and me with wealth
and employment.
Pupil Nurse,
Royal Gwent Hospital,
Newport, Gwent.
SHIFT REQUEST
Name and address supplied
Is there anything particulary
wrong with wanting to know
what shift you are working in a
months time?
You would think so, with the
response I have had in trying to
find out.
I am getting married in July
and will have to arrange the
wedding around what I can
only speculate my shifts will be.
It is nothing but lunacy!
Are patients going to suffer
because inept ward managers
second year student nurse. I
think not.
This profession is built on
on any respect for human
need.