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With the increasing birth-rate and the general
deterioration of housing, demands on the Home Help
Help Service have tended to increase; with publicity
these demands should increase still further.
The provision of Home Helps in suitable cases
has now been established as an integral part of the
Maternity and Child Welfare services. Every avenue
should be explored to insure the provision of an
adequate number of full and part-time helpers.
The number of Home Helps available for employment
at the end of 1945 was 1.
DOMESTIC HELPS.- Statutory Rules & Orders, 1944,
dated 23 Nov. 1944, gave Local Authorities the
requisite power to institute schemes of Domestic Help;
Ministry of Health Circular No.179/44 of 14 Dec. 1944
recommended Local Authorities to adopt such a scheme
as a matter of some urgency. The Domestic Help scheme
is intended to assist persons' sick or infirm (whether
through old age or otherwise) who are unable to obtain
domestic help . The Public Health Committee decided
to act on the Ministry's recommendation and the
necessary scheme, including a graduated scale of
charges, was accordingly instituted in June 1945.
The Ministry undertakes to pay the difference between
the cost of the scheme and the amount collected.
Up to the end of the year, 13 cases were assisted.
The Domestic Help scheme is still in its infancy,
and has been handicapped through lack of adequate
helpers. There can be no doubt as to its value as a
Social Service, and steps are being taken to obtain
further assistance in the way of staff. During the 6
months' working 4 helpers were employed for varying
periods, although the number actually available at
end of the year was reduced to 1.
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MASSAGE OR SPECIAL TREATMENT.
Under the bye-laws governing this class of
establishment, 8 existing licences were renewed and
1 was refused during 1945. Three applications for
new licences were not granted.
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