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9
THE CARE OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.
The Ministry of Health issued Circular 2866 dealing with this matter on October 1st, 1943, and a revised
edition on November 16th. 1943. A report on the subject appeared in Appendix A of the 1944 Annual Health Report.
It is hoped that the premises secured for the stay of mothers and illegitimate children will be ready for occupation
in the near future.
NURSING HOMES.
No new homes were registered in 1947.
The total number of homes on the register at the end of 1946 was 5, providing accommodation for 4 maternity
patients and 20 other patients.
AGED AND INFIRM PERSONS.
The suitable care of aged and infirm persons was reported on in the 1913 Annual Report. The Domestic
Help Service has been extended to assist the aged and infirm (see below, Home Help Report).
SOCIAL PROBLEMS GENERALLY.
This subject was dealt with in the 1945 Annual Report. Progress has been made with the establishment
of homes and hostels as indicated above.
THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ON THE " HOME HELP SCHEME."
In accordance with the Ministry of Health Circular 110 46, the Council agreed to appoint a full-time paid
organiser, who came on duty on 27th January, 1947.
Number of Staff.—The number of staff, as at 27th January, 1947, was one full-time member. The women
were very slow at first to come forward as " Home Helps." It was a new scheme and not many were willing to do
this kind of work.
The Council then took steps to encourage the right type of person to be a Home Help. Advertisements were
inserted in the local press, with wages at 2s. 6d. an hour for full or part-time work, travelling expenses and holidays
with pay after 6 months' service.
The Labour Exchanges were visited and also the Health Centres in the Borough to recruit staff. The response
to the advertisement was very good and each woman was interviewed and the suitable ones were chosen.
The number of applications for help has considerably increased, but fortunately the recruitment of additional
staff has kept pace with the increasing demand.

The full-time helpers usually do three cases a day. During the year ten Home Helps have resigned, the
main reason being that the work was too hard. Several found the travelling from one job to another very fatiguing,
especially during the inclement weather. One helper sustained an accident to her head and received workmen's
compensation.
As from 1st December a combined scheme has operated to include helps for maternity cases.

Fees Paid by Applicants.—The fees paid by applicants (see Table 10 on page 10) indicate that all classes of
the community are receiving this useful assistance from the Public Health Service.