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During the year 2,437 cases, compared with 2,422 last year, were provided with
domestic help and, of these, 1,850 were aged 65 years or over, 117 were maternity
cases, 243 were chronic sick or tuberculous and three were mentally disordered.
The remaining 224 cases were assisted for various reasons, such as post-operative
hospital discharge, ante-natal conditions, and acute illness. Compared with last
year, these figures show a decrease in the demand for help in maternity cases,
with a corresponding increase for help in the case of the aged and chronic sick, etc.
Mothers suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy are provided with the service free
of charge, as it is important to ensure early and complete rest during the ante-natal
period. Domestic help was provided for eight such cases.
Neighbourly Help Scheme
Under this scheme neighbours may be paid a small weekly sum to provide
limited domestic help to those in need. The neighbourly help keeps a friendly eye
on the patient and undertakes or helps with certain household duties, such as firelighting,
preparing meals, shopping and cleaning. The scheme operates on a
relatively small scale as many prefer to be truly neighbourly and give their services
without charge, whilst others are unwilling to accept the responsibility.
Every effort is made to foster the scheme, thereby easing a little the demand
on the limited home help staff resources. However, it is essential for the neighbourly
help to live nearby, and, mainly for this reason, it is not always possible to link
offers of help with persons in need.
During the year seven families received assistance under this scheme, and at
the end of the year four neighbourly helps were employed.
In-Service Training
During 1968 an in-service training scheme was started for home helps and
details of the courses arranged are given in the section of this Report on staff training.
(See Statistical Table 28)
TEN-YEAR PLAN FOR HEALTH SERVICES
Ministry of Health Circular 10/67, gave notice of the Minister's intention to
ask for revised plans for the development of the health services, towards the end
of 1968, to cover the ten-year period up to and including 1978/79.
Ministry of Health Circular 19/68 requested the submission of a programme of
capital works, for which loan sanction was expected to be sought from the Minister,
for the three financial years 1969/70, 1970/71 and 1971/72. The circular also
pointed out that it had been decided to defer asking authorities to undertake a
revision of their ten-year development plans until 1969.
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