Rhyming Verse by Bibi

Rhyming verse, written when working for different NHS departments

Hospital: The Renal Unit
- The Patients Who Orbit The Satellite Unit (please scroll to next box)
- Thank You Card + pedagogic suggestions for adaptation
- The Rhyming Quiz + (EFL/ESL creative writing & roleplay)
Hospital: Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
- Thank you poem + pedagogic suggestions for adaptation
Thanet Multi-Agency Services (TMS) Child Psychiatry
- Thank you poem + pedagogic suggestions for adaptation
GP Surgery: The Elusive Prescription
GP Surgery: Long Delays in the Waiting Room

QEQMH RENAL UNIT

THE PATIENTS WHO ORBIT THE SATELLITE UNIT

I worked for a few months in the renal unit and marvelled at the good relationship which patients had with each other and staff - almost like a club. They had to attend every other day and chatted to each other like old friends. When I left, I wrote the following poem for the patients:-

THE PATIENTS WHO ORBIT THE SATELLITE UNIT
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In May, I discovered a unique ward,
Located near the stores,
It contains forty-four patients
With matching bodily flaws.
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Despite needing dialysis,
I never heard them complain.
They just made me feel welcome;
Their friendship was plain.
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They’re served by a longstanding team,
Which makes them rather pleased.
The continuity is so important
And they don’t mind being teased.
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A unique ward, it certainly is:
Patients, machines & staff.
Nevertheless, amongst all their illness,
They always find time to laugh.
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(May God bless them all)

PEDAGOGIC SUGGESTIONS:

Discuss satellites in general and compare with why the unit is called a 'satellite unit'.
Discuss types of kidney problems, reasons, treatment, physical effects & prognoses
Think of ways in which patients can fill the hours productively, whilst having treatment. They have to attend every other day for 3-4 hours.

QEQMH: RENAL UNIT

A THANK YOU CARD & RHYMING QUIZ FOR THE STAFF

I was only working in the ward temporarily as a ward clerk and would like to have worked there permanently; however, Stephanie pipped me to the post. On my last day, the nursing team not only treated me to a large dish of delicious water melon, but also gave me a beautiful basket of fruit, so I wrote a thank you poem and enclosed a rhyming quiz with it, as follows:-

THE THANK YOU CARD

The melon was delicious;
An unusual & delightful treat.
Thank you so very much too
For the wonderful basket of fruit

I loved working in this unit
And would like to do so again;
So Stephanie, please let me know
When your interest is on the wane.

PEDAGOGIC SUGGESTION:

Try writing your own 'thank you' poem to:
- colleagues for a leaving gift
- your family for a Christmas gift
Use the above poem as a guide and change words to suit you

THE RENAL UNIT RHYMING QUIZ

Who often needs a pen?
Who shouts out for attention?

Who receives visits in Lily’s Room?
Who’s always busy with mop and broom?

Who’s currently buying a property?
Who avoids making coffee and tea?

Who’s Trevor teaching to swear?
Who arranges holidays here and there?

Who’s seeking another post?
Who scoffs tea, biscuits and toast?

Who’s studying for their NVQ?
Who’s in Scotland to seek work anew?

Who acquires paper when stocks are low?
Who asks questions `bout pressures & flow?

Who’s always earliest to dialyse?
Who brings in the fruit pies?

Whose chair makes the most noise?
Who runs rings around the ‘boys’?

Who snapped Ernie’s string braces?
Who served giant Swiss roll slices?

Who makes the team feel uneasy,
By working when they’re all taking it easy?

Who puts a sheet over their head
To make it look as if they’re dead?

Who are ready for real emergencies,
Despite their readiness to tease?

NOTE: I haven't included the answers as they only have meaning for the people who worked in the unit; however, the questions give an idea of the working relationship and events within the unit.

PEDAGOGIC SUGGESTIONS:

Using the questions above,

write a description of life in the renal unit
create short dialogues
create a short play (ideal for whole class involvement)
create escalation exercises:
- provide prompts for each student involved
- each prompt should describe an evolving situation and possibly give instructions on how the student should react
- either the student chooses the language to use, or exponents can be given

QEQMH: THE SPECIAL CARE BABY UNIT

(SCBU - pronounced: scaboo)

Working in the Special Care Baby Unit for a spell was both enjoyable and heart-rending; their weak cries were sometimes racked with pain. I thought in my ignorance that babies were fully healed, when ready to go home and I found that heartening. Just before I left, however, I saw a documentary about premature babies, which made me realise that many of them suffer life-long health problems.

LEAVING POEM

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I’ve enjoyed every moment

That I’ve spent in SCBU,

With such friendly people:

Nurses, Docs, Patsy `n you.

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It’s not everyone who can boast

They’ve found the perfect post,

But I can claim that privilege

A little more than most.

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The job’s not only interesting,

But challenging through `n through;

Thus, providing job satisfaction

With daily exercise thrown in too.

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So, whilst I’m sitting in the library,

Acquiring more rolls of fat,

I’ll be missing you and SCBU ;

There’s no doubting that.

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Thank you very, very much for the beautiful flowers.

PEDAGOGIC SUGGESTION:

Try writing your own 'thank you' poem to:
- colleagues for a leaving gift
- your family for a Christmas gift
Use the above poem as a guide and change words to suit you

MORTIMER HOUSE: TMS

TMS is a multi-services agency, based in one building, for the benefit of childen requiring psychiatric help. My job was to type reports and it was extremely heartening, because all the comments were so positive.

TO TMS

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I’d like to thank you

For the flowers and card.

The work was so interesting,

But not too hard.

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Working for TMS had many rewards:

Louise’s supervision,

Peter’s birthday lunch, Open Day

And Mary’s tapping session

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Never before, have I felt so heartened,

Typing out reports;

Line after line, the words,

‘That’s good’, kept leaping into my thoughts.

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Your premises are marvellous,

The envy of one and all;

Lucky, they don’t know about the noisy loo,

Nor offices being too cool.

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I really enjoyed working for you

At Dead Sea House,

Where the atmosphere is so pleasant,

It would scarcely startle a mouse.

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Bibi Baxter - 2004

PEDAGOGIC SUGGESTION:

Try writing your own 'thank you' poem to:
- colleagues for a leaving gift
- your family for a Christmas gift
Use the above poem as a guide and change words to suit you

THE ELUSIVE PRESCRIPTION

Written whilst working in a GP's surgery

THE ELUSIVE PRESCRIPTION

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“I’ve called to collect a prescription;

I need it urgently.”

“Haven’t you already had it?”

“No, you haven’t given it to me!”

“Just a minute, I’ll check the computer.

Ah ha! It was issued yesterday.”

“Well, where is it? I haven’t got all day!”

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“Oh, where can that prescription be?

It’s missing you know.”

“Could it have been filed under ‘B’?”

“Oh, no.” “Or ‘C’?” “NO!”

“Well, try ‘G’ and ‘T’; you never know.”

“In any case, it should have gone to Boots!

It was clearly marked to go!”

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“Then why did you send an SAE?”

“Did I?” (scratching his head).

It was posted; that’s for sure!

That’s why we can’t find it;

It’s being put through your door!

That’s where it’s at,

So panic over and that’s that!”

Do you feel impatient in waiting rooms? Many people do. Sometimes it is unjustified and at other times, it is due to conscientiousness. When I saw how conscientious the nurse was, I wrote to ask if a light-hearted notice could be put up to explain the delays. I suggested a cartoon, but suddenly felt inspired and the following was the result.

DELAYS CAN'T BE HELPED

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If you've been waiting long, it's easy to think

Your doctor or nurse is sneaking a drink,

Chatting, or just taking a rest.

You might even believe they're not doing their best,

But, before this feeling grows and grows,

We can assure you the reason's none of those.

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We're conscientious and thorough, doing everything we can

For all our patients, whether child, woman or man.

Writing prescriptions is just one tiny task;

There are hundreds more, for which patients ask.

With such individual needs to be met for everyone,

Our medical staff ensure all tasks are done -

Very carefully.

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Bibi Baxter - 1992