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Applications for help are received from various sources, from
hospitals, general practitioners' clinics, the Haling Chest Clinic,
the British Red Cross, W.V.S., etc.
First priority is given to maternity cases where the confinement
takes place at home. The Home Help for such a case is booked in
advance and attends full-time (9—5) for 14 days. Cases of tuberculosis
are given next consideration on the recommendation of the
Chest Physician. No permanent help can be guaranteed for cases
of acute illness or for the chronic sick, as the scheme provides
for emergencies only, but help is allocated as far as the establishment
permits.
The duties of the Home Help include cooking, cleansing,
shopping, looking after the children and the washing of such articles
as are usually done at home. A special "squad" exists to deal
with households that have got into such a dirty state that one
Home Help would have difficulty in getting the premises clean,
and the department has available a stock of cleansing material
for such homes.
During the year the question of Tuberculosis developing in
Home Helps who had been working in the homes of persons suffering
from Tuberculosis was raised at the Area Health Committee. This
arose from cases which had occurred in Ealing, and as a result of the
representations made, the Government extended the Insurance
provisions to cover this type of case, in addition to the cases where
nurses may have contracted Tuberculosis from patients. This
will ensure that justice is done in cases where there is little doubt
that an infectious background has been present during the working
period of the Home Help and Tuberculosis is developed at a later
stage.
The Home Help service is not a free service and charges are
made based on the number of hours help given to each case.
Any person who is unable to bear the full cost may apply for the
charges to be assessed according to the family financial circumstances.
During 1950 help was provided for a total of 975 cases, of
these 175 were maternity cases, 52 were cases of tuberculosis and
750 were cases of illness and senility. In addition, a further 149
cases who were receiving help in January, 1950, were still receiving
help on December 31st, 1950.
The Home Help Service works in close liaison with other organisations
whose concern is the welfare of the sick and aged. The
British Red Cross Society supply sick room equipment and will also
arrange transport to and from hospital. The Society also supplies a
"Meals on Wheels" service for providing hot meals for the aged