View report page

scale. In 1937 only those families who came within the Council's
free scale were considered for this service; extension has now been
made to include all income groups. During 1947, Home Helps
were supplied in 164 maternity eases, compared with 27 in 1938
(the first complete year); 5 are full-time staff, 7 others, not
wishing to work full-time, act as Home Helps in one or two
cases per month and are paid only for the weeks during which
they are at work. The provision of white overalls to be worn in
the homes, improves the standard of hygiene and adds dignity to
the work, whilst also protecting the Home Help's personal clothing.
Supervision is exercised by the Health Visitors who eall at
the home during the time the Home Help is in attendance.
The organisation of this service is attended with considerable
difficulties, some almost impossible to overcome these days.
Among the latter the question of exactly when the baby will
arrive, confronts all who handle maternity services. On some
days " late" babies and " early" babies arrive almost together.
At times the Home Helps are usefully employed in the Council's
Day Nurseries whilst waiting for their services to ;be required.
Another unavoidable difficulty causing disappointment occurs
when a Home Help falls ill, but this fortunately is infrequent.
Change of plans, miscarriage, admission to hospital, etc., may all
occur after early application for the Home Help has been made,
and if the appropriate cancellation be delayed disorganisation in
the service is inevitable.
On the whole the Home Helps are warmly greeted and a
high degree of satisfaction is evident from the many letters of
thanks received in respect of their services.
10. INFANT DEATHS. During 1947 the total number of
Wembley children who died without reaching their first birthday
was 53, and, of this number, 38 did not survive the first month
of life.
Despite the comparatively low infant death rate of 26 per
1,000 registered births published in respect of Wembley for 1946,
Dr. Morison, the late Medical Officer, suggested at the end of that
year that an enquiry regarding the social conditions of each case
of infant death might be undertaken, with a view to exploring
the possibility of the existence of any factor affecting the cause of
infant deaths. A special visit was therefore made by the Health
Visitor for the district, to parents who had suffered the loss of a
young child under twelve months of age during 1947. An attempt
was therefoy made to ascertain whether special care or further
health education regarding personal hygiene was indicated in any
case, or if greater knowledge of preventive measures should be
23