In my commentary I will deal with the material presented, but in the conclusion I will raise some general issues concerning staff support groups.

Firstly some points about the general context of the group which relate to the material presented. The group is organised only for the qualified staff nurses who are responsible for the care of both acutely ill and chronically ill patients. The ward has been short staffed and so the stress and anxiety level is quite high, leaving little possibility of metabolising the disturbing scenes that are part of life on such a ward. There is an additional more immediate stress - the charge nurse who occupies an