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104
Considerable difficulty is experienced in trying to arrange the
work. The best home helps are well booked in advance ; but
confinements do not always occur at the expected times and
mothers often complain bitterly if they cannot have the services
of the home help of their choice, even although they have miscalculated
their dates of confinement. In special cases home helps
may have to continue at one home for longer than the specified
14 days; in other cases the expectant mother may have to be
admitted to hospital for her confinement. Such unforeseen circumstances
make it difficult to arrange for mothers to have the
home helps of their choice ; and the patient who has to make a
second choice at the last minute is often resentful, especially if she
feels that she is paying more than if she had engaged unofficial help
privately. At one time, about two months ago, all the Council's
home helps were engaged ; at other times the majority have been
disengaged. Even although the approved list contained 100
names, instead of 14, it would still be impossible to guarantee that
mothers could have the home help of their choice.
After consideration of the above report the Council Resolved:—
(1) That the present scheme be modified in the following
manner—
(a) That the existing principle of keeping an approved
list of home helps be continued, and in addition applicants be
allowed to provide their own home helps, whose employment
will be subject to the approval of the M.O.H. when for any
reason it is not possible to supply a home help from the
Council's approved list.
(b) That the applicants providing their own home helps
must notify the M.O.H. of the name and address of the persons
chosen at least six weeks before the date of confinement.
(c) That grants up to a maximum of £1 1s. per week be
made to the applicants providing their own home helps in
accordance with the following scale:—
Amount of grant.
Where total income from all sources
after deduction of rent is below the scale of
remission, adopted by the Council for use in
connection with Maternity and Child Welfare
service 21s. per week.