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54
domestic assistance to maternity patients in the Borough during the
lying-in period. The Committee agreed that such service should be
provided by the Council, and the following scheme was approved in
respect of this service :—
Panel.
A panel of Home Helps considered suitable by the Committee to
be formed, including women recommended by the Superintendents of
the Local District Nursing Associations,—the persons on such panel
to be available to homes in cases of child-birth occurring in the
Borough.
Rate of Payment.
Home Helps to be paid at the rate of 5s. 0d. per day when
employed, with no retaining fee. In normal cases they will be on
duty for 10 days; hours 8 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily,
subject to variation in certain cases.
Duties.
To be fixed by the Committee and to consist of general home
management, including cooking, certain washing, the care of the
children, etc. A doctor or midwife will be in attendance on the case
and no nursing duties of any description are to be undertaken by the
Home Helps.
Payments by Applicants.
Applicants to be assessed to pay the whole or a portion of the
cost of the Home Helps, according to their means.
On the 20th April the Ministry of Health sanctioned the proposed
arrangements.
During the year—April to December—ten mothers availed themselves
of this facility, being assessed to contribute at charges varying
from 5s. to 6d. a day.
At the present time there are six Home Helps on the "panel," but
this number can, of course, be increased should occasion arise.
The scheme would appear to fulfil a need and to be working
satisfactorily, both from the point of view of the mothers and the
Home Helps.