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(3) The Good Neighbour Service
This was inaugurated to assist elderly or chronically disabled persons by utilizing
the services of neighbours who, although not wishing to become home helps, are
prepared to give some assistance on a regular basis. The "good neighbour"
attends patients at times when assistance is needed, e.g., first thing in the morning
and last thing at night.
(4) The Night Service
This service was started to relieve a family of some of the burden of helping a
seriously ill patient during the night. The home help is in attendance to assist the
patient from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. This service is usually only given on alternate nights,
except in special circumstances.

The number of patients receiving assistance at the end of the year was 1,740.
The chronic sick represent by far the largest load on the service and the overwhelming
majority of these are elderly. The provision of a service to these patients is very
expensive of home help time. The home help who attends this type of case works
in close collaboration with the home nurse, the patient's general practitioner, the
health visitor and the welfare officer, all of whom may be concerned in some way.
The number of maternity cases assisted has remained fairly constant over the past
three years. The home help attending this type of case works in conjunction with
the midwife.
PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A HOME HELP
The request for the services of a home help may be made by the patient, his
relatives, family doctor, welfare officer, children's officer, or by one of the Health
Department staff. In all cases a doctor's supporting certificate must be obtained.
The Home Help Service is under the immediate supervision of an Organiser and six
Assistant Organisers. When a request for help is received the patient is visited and
an assessment is made of the requirements. The applicant then completes a form
agreeing to pay the full cost of the service, or to be assessed. Provision for payment
is contained in Section 29(2) of the National Health Service Act, 1946, which reads
"A local health authority may, with the approval of the Minister, recover from
persons availing themselves of the domestic help so provided such charges (if any)
as the authority consider reasonable, having regard to the means of those persons
In Circular 100/48, the Minister indicated the extent to which he approved the
making of charges for certain articles or services provided under the National Health
Service Act. The Council decided to make charges for various services and articles,
including the Home Help Service. The present standard rate is 4s. 9d. per hour,
but approximately 70 per cent. of those receiving help are given a free service.
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