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of charge, a service which was commenced in July, 1961, steadily
increased during 1962, and approximately 6,000 were supplied to
incontinent patients during the year.
Recuperative Holidays
During the year 39 persons on the recommendation of their
medical practitioner, were sent on convalescence for a recuperative
holiday. In most instances the period recommended was two weeks.
Domestic Help Service
Authority to provide a Domestic Help Service is contained in
the National Health Service Act, 1946, Section 29. Help can be
given to persons who fall within the following categories:—
(i) Acute sick.
(ii) Chronic sick.
(iii) The elderly.
(iv) Infectious Disease cases.
(v) Maternity cases, including complications of pregnancy
such as Toxaemia.
(vi) Problem families
(vii) Mentally ill persons.
(viii) Mentally sub-normal persons.
The night attendant service made use of largely in cases of
terminal illness as also provided by the Domestic Help Section.
The aim of the service should be to keep persons as fit as
possible and as independent as possible, and for this reason it is
importam not to overprescribe or underprescribe the amount of help
that is required. The assessment of the right amount of help largely
depends on the medical aspects of the case, and Organisers must be
provided with enough medical details to assist them to assess the
need, and in the choice of the most suitable help for a particular
case. The Domestic Help may need to be prepared for the problems
and the reactions of mental or sub-normal cases, and the care necessary
to be taken in tuberculous households.
An important duty of Home Helps is to give health education
in a practical way in problem family households, and she may have
to guide a mother into acceptable standards of household management,
food preparation, child care, home safety, and budgeting.
During the year more Home Helps were employed to keep
up with the demand. There is, however, a limit to the number of
Persons available for this type of work and at times, particularly
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