View report page

49
to their rooms, the home help is the main contact with the outside world. It is known (and here
gratefully acknowledged) that the home helps' kindness and attention to their clients extends in
many cases far beyond the normal expected duties.
The home help is often the means of preventing children being taken into care while a mother is
ill, in hospital or unable to cope. She will ensure that during the daytime the children are fed and
cared for, and if necessary, will take them to day nursery or school, collecting them later in the day.
Some home helps are specially trained to work with and to advise inadequate parents on general
aspects of child care and household management.
By being in touch with so many of the City's residents in need of aid, the home help is able to
report the need for other necessary services—meals-on-wheels, district nursing, incontinence
service, etc.
To ensure that maximum use is made of the existing staff, the position is kept under continual
review. It has become clear that although no one in urgent need of help is ever refused, additional
home helps are required to provide and maintain an adequate service. It is hoped that the establishment
will be increased by 10 posts in April 1970 which will help to satisfy the ever-increasing
demands for service.
Number of home helps 1969 1968
(a) Joining service 53 41
(b) Leaving service 54 83
(c) Employed on 31st December 219 220
full-time equivalent 200 184
Statistics relating to the home help service are set out in Table 39, page 86.
NURSING HOMES
There are 10 registered nursing homes in the City of Westminster. All take medical patients; six
also take surgical patients. Three take maternity patients and one is registered under Part 3 of the
Mental Health Act 1959 to take patients suffering from mental illness.
Under Section 1 of the Abortion Act 1967, six of the 10 registered nursing homes applied to the
Department of Health and Social Security and obtained approval to take patients for termination of
pregnancy.
No new nursing homes were registered during 1969.
The nursing homes are regularly inspected by a senior medical officer and a public health inspector
and advice is given about alterations and improvements.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Recuperative holidays, usually of two weeks' duration, are arranged for adults who have been
suffering from a recent illness, and while not needing special medical or nursing care, would benefit
from rest, fresh air and good food.
Expectant mothers and mothers with babies or children under five years who cannot be left at
home are also catered for under this scheme. Most patients are assessed for payment according to
their means; those who object to assessment are asked to pay the actual cost of the holiday.
Recommendations for recuperative holidays for schoolchildren are referred to the Inner London
Education Authority, who bear the cost.
The following recuperative holidays were arranged in 1969:
1969 1968
Expectant and nursing mothers 1 Nil
Tuberculosis 1 3
Other adults 82 92
Accompanied children 7 15
Unaccompanied children under 5 years 7 6
Schoolchildren 74 57
Total 172 173