View report page

The present standard charge for home help service is 5/8d. an hour which is reduced
according to the financial circumstances. The service is free to certain classes, e.g. those
persons in receipt of supplementary benefit from the Ministry of Social Security, or families
where the mothers, suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy, have submitted a medical certificate.
Specially trained helps are utilised to provide assistance to problem families. An inservice
course of 8 lectures designed to assist helps in their work was attended by 24 home
helps.
Improved scales of issue of protective clothing to home helps were made this year. In
addition to full-time home helps being supplied with a gaberdine raincoat, shoes and overalls,
part-time employees giving a minimum of 10 hours service per week are issued with overalls, and
those giving 20 or more hours per week are, after 2 years qualifying service, being issued
with raincoats and shoes.
In a parliamentary answer, the Minister of Health stated that the national cost of the
Home Help Service in 1966/67 was £18,900,000, less charges of £1,800,000.
Households numbering 3,585 were provided with the service during the year compared with
3,700 last year. (Statistics on page 106).
DAY CARE SERVICE
The day care service continued to function satisfactorily. This service which is
additional to the normal home help service, is given to selected aged persons by neighbours or
persons living in the immediate vicinity, and is intended to cater for those persons chronically
ill, or bedridden and living alone who require visiting or attention several times a day.
The service is however, limited by the availability of the neighbours willing to undertake
this paid work.
REMOVAL OF PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION
The Council is empowered by Section 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948, as amended by
the National Assistance (Amendment) Act 1951, to make application to a Court of Summary
Jurisdiction for an Order for the removal to hospital or institution of any aged, infirm or
physically incapacitated person living in insanitary conditions, and who is in need of care
and attention.
It was found necessary this year to apply for Removal Orders under this enactment in
respect of 3 persons who were removed to hospital.
BURIALS
Section 50 of the National Assistance Act 1947 places a duty on the Council to arrange
for the burial of any person found dead within the borough where no private arrangements have
been made.
Burials undertaken during the year numbered 42. (Statistics —on page 114).
- 44 -