London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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51
The approved establishment for this service on 1st January was 60 full time helps
or their equivalent in part time helps, i„e„ a maximum of 2,640 hours per week (60 x 44)
With the approval of the Minister the establishment was increased to 70 full time helps
or their equivalent in part time helps thus permitting a maximum use of 3,080 hours per
week (70 × 44).
provision was made for an average use of 2,530 hours per week from 1st January to
31st March and 2,750 hours per week from 1st April to 31st December, The average number
of hours worked per week during the year was 2,597.
In the year under review the Organiser and her assistant; made the following visits:-
| Organiser | Assistant Organiser | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary visits for initial investigation of a request for help | 553 | 86 | 639 |
| Subsequent visits to cases already in receipt of help | 438 | 1.611 | 2,049 |
| Totals | 991 | 1,697 | 2,688 |
The salient feature in reporting on this most valuable of the social services is the
steady expansion of the service exempified in the following figures of average hours
worked per week
1953 - 2,331 hours per week
1954 - 2,441 " " "
1955 - 2,597 " " "
Careful study of the Organiser's records and assessment of need in each household shows
clearly that the hours of service given to individual cases is the bare minimum actually
available to carry out basic chores and provide a hot meal when necessary To devote more
time to individual persons would deprive others of the very hours needed for the basic
necessities of decency required by any person to continue to live with any degree of human
dignity
As is already well known the whole problem is exacerbated by the steady increase in the
number of old persons in the community coupled to the increasing unwillingness of children
to care for and cherish their ageing parents We still find that neighbours will often have
more humanity and charity in their hearts than children who are apparently indoctrinated
that the state (i, e local authority, will provide the care and nourishment to sustain life
This may well be so but the local authority cannot supply the comfort and companionship
which banishes the dread loneliness of many of these old folk
I know many a home help who devotes much of her leisure time to bring a little
companionship and warmth into some of these empty lives No words of praise are too
extravagent for these generous thoughts and actions and East Ham can justly be proud of
this fine body of socially minded women guided and encouraged by the Home Help Organiser.