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45
Service of Home Helps.—The service of Home Helps
was continued during the year 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.
During the year 91 applications were received for
home helps. 78 home helps were supplied.
Maternal Mortality.—During the year there were two
maternal deaths compared with four in the previous year
and three in the year before; one from acute peritonitis
and septicaemia, following ectopic gestation in the very early
months of pregnancy; and one from toxæmia, consequent
upon pregnancy. A special inquiry was made by the Medical
Officer of Health in each case in accordance with the
Ministry of Health's requirements. The maternal death
rate for the Borough of Hammersmith was 1.03 and compares
with 2.6 for the whole of London.
By arrangement with the staff at the Hammersmith
Hospital all cases that need consultation are referred to
that institution, where the mother is admitted for observation
if necessary, or other appropriate measures are taken
to provide for her welfare.
The number of patients booking beds at the hospital
has become so great that it has been found impossible to
supervise them all throughout the whole of their ante-natal