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left to their own devices. The British Medical Association Telephone Answering
Service (see page 59) provided the emergency link between the home helps and the
organiser "on duty".
Dirty Cases
Cases still come to the notice of the Home Help Service of people who, because
of illness, etc., are living in abnormally dirty conditions and "at risk" to themselves.
During the year, the Home Help Service cleaned ten homes of this particular type,
using modern cleaning equipment provided by the Health Department. Home helps
who work in a team to carry out this type of work, do so from a sense of dedication.
Recruitment Campaign
A recruitment campaign was launched during the autumn of this year with
particular regard to the Good Neighbour Service (see below). The campaign was twofold;
the Home Help Organiser gave talks to Old Peoples' Committees and various clubs
to promote an understanding of the Service and recruitment was assisted by a press
and publicity campaign involving leaflets and posters.
Advice Centres
Advice Centres are now held at certain clinics and day clubs run by voluntary
organisations at which the Home Help Organiser or an assistant are in attendance to
deal with enquiries from home helps, nursing staff and public, as well as family doctors.
Good Neighbour Service
Cases receiving the Good Neighbour Service are excluded from the above figures
and are set out below:—
1968
1969
Chronic sick (aged under 65)
6
9
Chronic sick over 65
85
100
Acute under 65
-
1
Total cases helped
91
110
The Neighbourly Help Service within the Borough has augmented the Home Help
Service to such a degree as to have become an integral part of the Service. Indeed, as
numbers will show, this scheme is growing and details are now required for inclusion
in the annual statistical return of the Department of Health 6? Social Security. Enquiries
have been received from a number of local health authorities who are interested in
setting up a Neighbourly Help Service and further details are set out below:—
An important aspect is the employment of members of the public who would not
normally be employable by reason of age and irregular hours, etc.
Age — There is no age limit and pensioners can be employed so long as they are sufficiently
active to carry out their duties.
Married Women with Children — Young married mothers are often able to act as
neighbourly helps. There are no regulations to prevent children from accompanying
their mothers if patients do not object.
Relatives — If the Service is unable to provide sufficient help to cover a particular case,
a relative can be employed, provided the relative gives up employment to attend the
case and the remuneration received as a neighbourly help does not exceed the amount
received from the previous employment. It is a fact that if relatives give up work to
become neighbourly helps, the Department of Health Social Security is able to assist
them by way of supplementary benefits.
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