London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Ealing 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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16. HOWE HELP SERVICE
The Home Help Service is provided by the council under Section 29 of the National
Health Service Act. Pour types of service are provided:-
(1) The Standard Service
This provides help in acute illness, at home confinements, for tuberculosis
cases, and for the chronic sick and aged. The major part of the case load is
composed of the chronic sick.
(2) Family Help Service
This is to support the family when the mother is either temporarily absent from
home, or due to inadequacy or some other reason is unable to cope with her
family duties. The family help service may be residential or non-residential.
(3) The Good Neighbour Service
This is an arrangement by which regular help is given by a neighbour working
under the Home Help scheme.
(4) The Night Service
This operates from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. to give relief to the family of seriously
ill patients.
The case load of the service during the year was as follows:-
| Types of patients assisted | No. |
|---|---|
| Chronic sick, aged and tuberculous | 2, 184 |
| Maternity | 147 |
| Others | 204 |
| pamily help | 13 |
The establishment of home helps is 260 which is partly filled by 327 part-time and
14 full-time staff to give an equivalent of 228 full-time home helps.
Due to the Prices and Incomes Policy it was still not possible fully to implement
the reorganisation recommended in previous reports. The basic rate payable to Home Kelps
was increased during the year to 6.59/l0d. per hour. This increase did not noticeably
improve recruitment.
The mobile squad introduced in late 1967 has been in use throughout the year and
proved itself a valuable addition to the service.
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