Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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The hours worked by the helps (including sickness, holidays and travelling time) were as follows:-
| Period | No. of hours | Period | No. of hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks ending | 1.2.53 | 9,312¾ | 4 weeks endlng | 31.1.54 | 9,964¼ |
| 4 " " | 1.3.53 | 9,550¾ | 4" " | 28.2.54 | 9,962 |
| 4 " " | 29.3.53 | 9,765¾ | 5 " " | 4.4.54 | 12,691¼ |
| 4 " " | 26.4.53 | 9,142¾ | 4 " " | 2.5.54 | 9,375¼ |
| 5 " " | 31.5.53 | 11,356¼ | 4 " " | 30.5.54 | 10,188 |
| 4" " | 28.6.53 | 8,740¼ | 4" " | 27.6.54 | 9,282½ |
| 5 " " | 2.8.53 | 11,097¼ | 5 " " | 1.8.54 | 11,317 |
| 4 " " | 30.8.53 | 9,486 | 4" " | 29.8.54 | 9,866 |
| 5 " " | 4.10.53 | 11,517 | 5 " " | 3.10.54 | 11,656½ |
| 4 " " | 1.11.53 | 9,609¾ | 4 " " | 31.10.54 | 10,005¾ |
| 4 " " | 29.11.53 | 9,732 | 4" " | 28.11.54 | 10,471¼ |
| 5 " " | 3. 1.54 | 11,896¾ | 5 " " | 2. 1.55 | 12,151¾ |
| 121,207¼ | 126,931½ | ||||
The establishment provided for the employment of 60 full time home helps,
i.e. a maximum of 2,640 hours per week (60 x 44). The average number of
hours worked per week was 2,331 in 1953 and 2,441 in 1954.
TABLE 59 HOME HELP SERVICE TABULATION OF CASES
| Illness or other reason for provision of help | Period of Service Provided | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 1-3 months | 3-6 months | 6-9 months | 9 -12 months | Totals | ||||||||||
| 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 54 | |
| Maternity | 1 | 1 | 29 | 35 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35 | 36 |
| Tuberculosis | - | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 5 | - | - | 10 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 29 | 39 |
| Cancer | 3 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | - | 6 | 11 | 24 | 28 |
| Old Age | 19 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 87 | 100 | 80 | 94 | 67 | 60 | 368 | 435 | 654 | 731 |
| Other Sickness | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 27 | 20 | 18 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 39 | 24 | 134 | 106 |
| Totals | 32 | 17 | 41 | 59 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 18 | 129 | 132 | 106 | 133 | 97 | 77 | 420 | 434 | 876 | 940 |
The number of helps employed on 31st December was as follows:-
| 1953 | 1954 | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Permanent Full-time helps | 2 | 2 |
| (b) Registered casual helps | 99 | 106 |
| (c) Casual helps on probation prior to registration | 20 | 13 |
| Total | 121 | 121 |
During the years under review, the Organiser and her Assistant made the following numbers of visits to the homes of applicants for the service :-
| 1953 | 1954 | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary visits to new applicants for the service | 562 | 577 |
| Visits to applicants already in receipt of the service | 2,010 | 2,385 |
| Totals | 2,572 | 2,962 |