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51
Section 29 DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE
This Service has continued to run smoothly during the year and
despite the many varied causes for providing help, the number of
cases throughout the year has remained about the same.
Often the Service is requested for care of children and specially
selected domestic helps are called for; older women are invaluable
in these homes to give the motherly touch, especially where a mother
is absent.
Out of the total of patients helped 80% have been over 65 years
of age and service given to these has mostly been of a repetitive
nature. Of this percentage regularly receiving help, many are
completely bed ridden,needing daily attention for shopping, food
and general comforts,apart from keeping the home clean. Many have
regained their former pride in their home simply by being encouraged
by a suitable domestic help.
Sometimes week end help is required by bed-ridden patients, with
out relatives who are willing to help. This can provide a difficulty
as Staff for week end work are always volunteers. Most domestic
helps are married women,who have home commitments and cannot give
time at week ends.However,no really deserving case is left without
help,should the need be urgent.
The Night Attendant Service has had a number of calls made upon
it;a proportion of these has been short term owing to patients being
admitted to hospital. We have been fortunate in recruiting a further
two Night Attendants making a total of four. Each has been ready to
attend patients at very short notice and their work has been greatly
appreciated by relatives.
During the year there have been a number of domestic helps whose
enthusiasm for the work has been very evident at the start but who
unfortunately have left after only a very short period of service.
This has meant that some patients have had several changes of helps,
which needs to be explained personally to them, involving more visits
to the same patients. Routine check visits have been maintained
regularly, thus ensuring that the amount of help is adequate.
Following a trial period of 12 months commencing in May 1961, the
County Council authorised the continuance of the provision of free
domestic help for expectant mothers certified by a doctor to be
suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy and needing such assistance.
Help is given according to the needs of each individual case and
in practice varies from full time to 4 hours daily. Medical
certificates are required at 28 day intervals.
During the year there were 5 beneficiaries of this service all
referred by general practitioners.