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75 [1936
7. It is incumbent on the Home-help to notify the Medical Officer of
Health—
(a) Immediately she commences at a case ;
(b) When she terminates her period of engagement with the case ;
(c) Immediately should she become ill or otherwise unable to attend
at the home of case ;
(d) Accidents, however slight, occurring at home or at work.
8. Infectious Disease.—Should the Home-help at any time, either before
taking on her duties or whilst engaged thereon, have been in contact with
any case of infection of any kind—including contagious skin affections of
children—she must intimate the fact to the Medical Officer of Health.
This applies equally, whether the contact has been at her own home,
the home of the case, or elsewhere.
9. The maximum period during which the Home-help carries out her
duties shall be Two Weeks.
The Hours of Duty shall be five each day, for six days in each week, carried
out during hours to meet the convenience of the patient.
10. Remuneration.—Upon satisfactory service, the Medical Officer of
Health will certify to the Borough Treasurer the sum payable to the Home-help
at the termination of each of the two weeks of her employment. The maximum
remuneration per week will be 25/- for the full thirty hours and proportionately
for an agreed lesser service. The Home-help must produce her National Health
Insurance card immediately she commences each case. The Home-help is not
entitled to food at the place where she is working, although it may be provided
at the option of the patient.
The Home-help must not receive any money from the case.
It will be noted that the Home-help is chosen by the applicant from names
included in a list of " Approved Home Helps " supplied by the Public Health
Department.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee have adopted a scale as a general
guide in fixing what the contribution (if any) of the applicant should be towards
the cost of the Home-help's services, and the payments may be by instalments
if so desired. When the applicant cannot afford the full contribution, the ba'ance
is met by a Council.
The Committee have wished that a larger number of persons who are suitable
would come forward and offer their services as Home-helps. The service is entirely
under the Public Health Department to whom applications are made, and after
investigation of references and enquiries as to the ability and experience, the person's
name is placed on the list and supplied, with others, to applicants in their locality.
When the Home-help notifies she is attending a case that has been " booked "
the work is supervised by the Municipal Health Visitor of the district.
During the year quite a number of letters were received from mothers by the
Maternity and Child Welfare Committee expressing appreciation of the services
rendered by these Home-helps.
In the year under review 28 cases had the services completed, and towards
the end of the year applications were becoming very frequent in number, so that
it is anticipated that there will be a very much greater demand for Home-helps
once the scheme becomes more fully known.