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45
AUXILIARY HOME SERVICES.
Service of Home Helps.—During the year a service
of Home Helps was inaugurated to help with the work of
the home during the mother's confinement at home.
Women approved by the Medical Officer of Health attend
for a specified number of hours each day, according to the
needs in the home, and are paid at a rate fixed by the
Borough Council. The families are assessed according to
a scale of income fixed by the Council. This service in
no way interferes with the duties and responsibilities of the
midwife, the home help's duties being the care of the
children, marketing, the cooking and serving of meals,
cleaning and washing. The home help only attends for
two weeks immediately following the confinement. Exceptional
circumstances and urgent cases, on application,
receive the special consideration of the Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee.
Since the service began in April, 1936, 16 applications
have been received for home helps. Home helps have
been supplied, and in three cases home helps have been
cancelled owing to the mothers being confined in Hospital.
Maternal Deaths.—During the year there were three
maternal deaths. One from acute nephritis, one from
septicaemia, and one from eclampsia.
Special enquiry was made by the Medical Officer of
Health in each case in accordance with the Ministry of
Health's requirements which aim at the prevention of
maternal deaths.
The maternal death rate for the Borough of Hammersmith
was 1.5 and compares with 1.9 for the whole of
London.