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94
In the case of a person suffering from tuberculosis I am
forbidden by the Tuberculosis Regulations from divulging that
information to any other person, e.g. the domestic helper. On the
other hand, in the event of the helper developing tuberculosis after
helping in a tuberculous household, she has no legal claim to compensation.
These difficulties can be met by the patient agreeing
to the nature of his/her disability being divulged, by the domestic
helper volunteering to help with the knowledge of the patient's
disability and by the helper taking all necessary precautions in
the infected home.
(d) The Dirty House.
The work for which a domestic helper is engaged is to carry
out the ordinary domestic duties usually undertaken by the
housewife. It is generally agreed that some 5 per cent. of mothers
are feckless and incompetent in their household work, and in a
few cases the house is in such a dirty and neglected condition that
nothing short of intensive and radical spring-cleaning of the
premises and thorough cleansing and disinfestation of the children
and disinfection of the premises are needed. Although action can
be taken with regard to disinfection of premises and disinfestation
of occupants, there is a limit to what a domestic helper should be
expected to do in the way of intensive spring-cleaning. Unfortunately
it is in dirty houses of this kind that the householders are
inclined to make unreasonable complaints regarding the failure of
helpers to keep the premises clean, and I do not consider that I
am justified in requiring a helper to undertake work in households
which are unreasonably dirty.
Domestic Help Organiser.
I am informed that it is the intention of the County Council
(hat there will be a "County Organiser of Domestic Helps" at
Chelmsford and a "Domestic Help Organiser" in each of the
Health Areas. Of the eleven Health Areas in the County seven
have already appointed (or approved the appointment of) Organisers,
and I recommend that consideration be given to the advisability of
making a similar appointment in Leyton Area.
Duties of an Area Domestic Help Organiser.
(1) To work under the direction of the Area Medical
Officer in establishing, maintaining and supervising an efficient
body of domestic helps.