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return of the intimation of the commencement of duties is in
order that the Health Visitor may at once get into touch with
the case, for obviously the expectant mother sends first for
her doctor, midwife, or Home Help, and it might be many
days before the Health Visitor got to know that the birth
had occurred.
County Borough of West Ham.
DUTIES OF HOME HELPS.
1.—To act under the direct supervision of the Health
Visitor.
2.—To be at hand at the time of labour and confinement:
to see that the patient's room is clean and everything in
readiness for the arrival of the Doctor or Midwife. The
Home Help is not responsible for the confinement itself, nor
must she interfere in any way with the instructions of the
Doctor or Midwife.
3.—After the confinement, to remove all soiled linen from
the patient's room, and to care for her generally, especially as
regards cleanliness and food.
4.—To see that the infant is properly fed and cared for
and, if possible, put to sleep in a separate cot.
5.—To wash and dry the labour clothes as soon as possible
and to keep the ordinary clothes washed in the usual way: to
get meals and tidy the house as the patient would, were she
not for the time laid aside.
6.—To care for any other children there may be and see
that school children attend punctually and are clean and tidy.
7.—Should the Home Help in any way come into contact
with a case of infectious disease, either in her own home, the
home of the patient, or elsewhere, she must at once report
the matter to the Medical Officer of Health.
8.—On the day following the confinement, the Home
Help must notify the Medical Officer of Health (Town Hall,
Stratford, E.15), that she has commenced her duties.
9.—Any conduct on the part of the Home Help which is
contrary to the interests of the person she is helping, may
lead to her name being removed from the list of Home Helps,
and render her liable to forfeit the payment due to her.
F. Garland Collins,
Town Hall, Medical Officer of Health.
West Ham.