Douglas A. Spencer

STRESS: in work with mentally handicapped people

This paper considers stress in work with mentally handicapped people in hospital. Staff at Meanwood Park Hospital, were invited to contribute their thoughts on this subject. The significant points to emerge were: the nature of stress; the problems of uncertainty in roles; less structured hospital regimes; increasing expectations but inadequate resources; lack of esteem; difficulties with parents and relatives; interprofessional tensions; and dichotomies in attitudes and philosophies. Sensitivity meetings, more positive decisionmaking, and awareness of over-commitment are suggested as possible approaches in coping with stress. Questions to be asked about stress in work are proposed.

DAYTIME CONTINUING EDUCATION

At Meanwood Park Hospital, which has over 500 beds, evening classes for adult patients were introduced in September, 1965. These classes, run by the local education authority, covered remedial education, art and craft, cookery, drama, and physical education. They continued over the years, some 90 patients attending three classes each night on three nights in the week. It was always hoped that some form of daytime further education could be provided because, while evening classes were useful for mainly recreational pursuits, they could not give the intensive education required to achieve the rehabilitation of the residents.