• In 1963, Roger Farrell (Medical records Officer 1960-87) started a hospital magazine.
• Initially attempted to publish weekly, but proved impractical, so was continued monthly and then quarterly.
• Roger Farrell did an editorial, which was not always received happily as he acted as the voice of staff and wasn’t afraid to criticise management.
• Used to publish comments from staff and tried to get children to do drawings.
• Copies were distributed, each ward received 2 copies, in the hope they would gain feedback from patients. 
• Published quarterly – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas 
• Special supplements and newsletters issued when requested to keep staff up to date, particularly in relation to latest developments in the hospital and activities of the League of Friends
• Main objective was to be an independent journal reflecting the life of the hospital and the people who worked in it
• Quarterly issues had regular columns, editorial and cartoons
• The bulk of the material was produced by the readers that is staff and patients 
• Articles, stories etc of between 500-1,000 words were required, letters to the editor welcome as were cartoons and drawings (black and white)
• The “Acci” regularly published the activities of the social club
• The magazine had an editor assisted by 4 assistant editor and an editorial advisor
• In 1978 the editorial board were:
  • Editor – Mr Roger Farrell, Medical Records Department 
  • Assistant Editors:
    • Fred Carter, Blood Bank
    • Mollie Heslip, Night Sister Burns Unit
    • Muriel Jeffcott, Sister in Charge Burns Unit 
    • J Michel, Nursing Officer Hand Unit
  • Editorial Advisor – Chris Lawrence, Medical Research Council 

• Published quarterly – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas 
• Special supplements and newsletters issued when requested to keep staff up to date, particularly in relation to latest developments in the hospital and activities of the League of Friends
• Main objective was to be an independent journal reflecting the life of the hospital and the people who worked in it
• Quarterly issues had regular columns, editorial and cartoons
• The bulk of the material was produced by the readers that is staff and patients 
• Articles, stories etc of between 500-1,000 words were required, letters to the editor welcome as were cartoons and drawings (black and white)
• The “Acci” regularly published the activities of the social club
• The magazine had an editor assisted by 4 assistant editor and an editorial advisor
• In 1978 the editorial board were:

• Editor – Mr Roger Farrell, Medical Records Department 
• Assistant Editors;
• Fred Carter, Blood Bank
• Mollie Heslip, Night Sister Burns Unit
• Muriel Jeffcott, Sister in Charge Burns Unit 
• J Michel, Nursing Officer Hand Unit
• Editorial Advisor – Chris Lawrence, Medical Research Council 

Letter to the Editor

To Socialize or Not?

Who wants a social club? I do, and I know lots more who do too. In a hospital with this amount of staff why is it that nobody seems to have the enthusiasm to get a club going?

There’s an idea going around that if we could find a room somewhere in the hospital where we could let rip – (so to speak!) there would be plenty of willing, enthusiastic helpers to get the room transformed into a place with a bit of atmosphere – it needn’t cost much either. Tables and chairs could be made out of crates, a few soft lights around and it would be great.

It could be somewhere to go during lunch hour or for staff staying late at night – just to have a cup of coffee and mingle with others, instead of staying “departmentalized” with only the steam bugs for company.

I expect someone will find fault though with any idea put forward which could mean a bit of fun. But please give it a thought this time, Mr. Editor.

Lonely, of B.A.H

Frustrated penny pusher

Dear Doc,

Please could you prescribe a 3d. and 1d. stamp machine for the hospital, as I, and many others suffer great strain and stress, feeding the old machines with pennies and half-pennies just post a letter. 

A frustrated penny pusher.