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44
It is hoped that Home Helps will be provided during confinement and puerperium
only for those mothers whose homes are suitable for confinement,
but it is realised that these Helps cannot be refused if the home conditions are
unsatisfactory. In unsatisfactory conditions the Medical Officers will do all
in their power to persuade the mothers to go to hospital. The Helps will be
given in order to enable these mothers to go to hospital.
Application for Home Helps.
Application will be made to the Public Health Department by the
expectant mother or her representatives. In the case of (a), a certificate from
the doctor or midwife must be produced; in the case of (b), (c) and (d), a certificate
from the doctor. A continuation certificate will be necessary in order
to renew Home Helps after one month. The Health Visitor can assist in
ascertaining this need if necessary and in (b) and (c) should report on whether
the mother is carrying out her treatment conscientiously. In normal confinements
Home Helps should be permitted in the first instance for two weeks only.
Method of assessment and collection of contributions.
The financial circumstances of the family will be investigated through
the mother or her representative at the Public Health Office, and the scale
of necessity will be the same as for the provision of a midwife as maternity
nurse (i.e., the scale for the Milk Assistance Scheme, as amended by the Public
Assistance Scale for family earnings).
The Home Help shall be paid in full by the Borough Treasurer in the usual
way, and the mother's contribution shall be paid in advance by the mother
or her representative each week regularly into her Infant Welfare Centre, or
the Public Health Office. Failure to pay her contribution on the date due, will
be reported to the Medical Officer of Health for reference to the Chairman or
the Committee if necessary.
As evidence of good faith a mother, where possible, should pay an amount
equal at least to two weekly contributions before the arrival of the Home
Help, and this rule should be explained to her when engaging a Home Help.
Note.—Except in emergency cases, the contribution should be paid in
advance in instalments and all should be paid up before the date of
engagement.
Those on Public Assistance or Unemployment Benefit shall be granted
free of cost. Where the mother pays half fee of the maternity nurse in doctors'
cases, she will not be asked to pay for a Home Help.