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The order of priority of applications for the Home Help Service remain as before,
i.e..:-
1. Acute Emergency cases.
2. Domiciliary confinements and 48-hour hospital discharges.
3. The tuberculous.
4. Other cases, i.e., chronic sick, aged infirm, mentally disordered, etc.
Applicants in receipt of supplementary benefit from the Ministry of Social
Security and those suffering from toxaemia in pregnancy receive the service free of
charge. In all other cases patients either pay the standard charge or are assessed to pay
according to their financial circumstances.
The recruitment of Home Helps continued to show some improvement by the end
of the year (60.3 in 1966) (65 in 1967), but the Home Help Service still had difficulties
in meeting all requests for assistance. The number of new cases referred to the service
was 849, plus 172 Maternity cases. Each case was visited by the Organiser, or one of
the assistant organisers, in order to assess the actual need. Approximately 45% were
found to be not eligible to receive the service.
Hourly payment is made to home helps in accordance with nationally negotiated
rates of pay. Additional remuneration is given for work in dirty homes and certain
cases of infectious disease.
It is interesting to note the difference in the number of hours worked by Home
Helps as between the various categories of patients requiring assistance:-
A. Patients whose mobility is affected by advancing years and physical disability
needing help for normal cleaning, carrying of fuel, cleaning kitchen appliances.
2 hours per week (1 visit).
B. Housebound cases requiring help as in A, but able to cook for themselves but
unable to do essential shopping. 4-9 hours per week (2-3 visits).
C. Housebound and bedfast cases unable to do anything for themselves requiring
help as A, and also cooking and essential shopping. 10—30 hours per week.
(Daily visits — Monday to Sunday).
D. Maternity cases. Home confinements requiring daily help until baby is 10
days old and 48-hour confinements needing daily care after discharge from
hospital, until baby is 10 days old. 10-40 hours (daily visits excepting
Saturdays/Sundays).
E. Acute cases, i.e., emergencies and post-operation cases especially affecting the
under 65's. Help is given according to need and accommodation and number
of children, etc. Cases who do not go to convalescent homes and/or are
recuperating, due to domestic need. 2-6 hours per week (1-3 visits).
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