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
Haringey 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE
The total number of cases provided with home help during the year was 2,689. The number of new
cases is still increasing and the bulk of the work continues to be among the aged sick, who need
permanent help.
The total number of visits made by the Home Help Organiser and her assistants during the year was
6,052. Of this number 1,374 were in respect of new cases.
The number of home helps in employment at the end of the year was 212(equivalent to 124.3 full time).
The following table shows details of the cases served during the year-
| Cases provided with help during the year | Number of new cases provided with help | Number of old cases for which help was continued from 1968 | Total number of cases provided with help | Total number of cases still being provided with help at end of year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or over at time of first visit during year | 615 | 1,717 | 2,332 | 1,762 |
| Aged under 65 on first visit during year- | ||||
| Chronic sick and tuberculosis | 45 | 151 | 196 | 141 |
| Maternity | 41 | 1 | 42 | 3 |
| Others | 89 | 30 | 119 | 41 |
| TOTALS | 790 | 1,899 | 2,689 | 1,947 |
The following cases still continue to make heavy demands on the service.
Case 1
Problem Family, mother, father and 9 children aged 11, 10, 9, 7, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1 year. Family
continues to get into debt and have to be guided along by Health Department Social Worker.
Home Help attends three hours daily.
Case 2
Widowed mother who had disseminated sclerosis. She has three sons, the eldest aged 20 years
by her first marriage and two other aged 6 and 7 years.
Home help attends four hours daily.
Case 3
Case referred by G.L.C. Housing Welfare Officer. Case commenced 17th March 1961 when the family
were rehoused by G.L.C. Mother left home prior to the move.
The children are now aged 17, 15, 13, 12, 10 and 9 years.
Father is' in regular employment but is more often than not in debt. Rent, electricity and gas bills
outstanding (gas meter has been broken into on various occasions).
Two of the children are at present in care.
The accommodation comprises three bedrooms — one occupied by the father, one by the two eldest
boys and the third by the other children, a living room and a sitting room. There is no bathroom.
The only washing facility is a sink which stands in a small area approximately four feet square
which includes the gas stove. There is an outside toilet.
Home help attends three hours each morning.
Case 4
Triplets aged 2 years and two other children aged 5 and 31/2 years.
Home help attends three times a week, two hours each time.
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