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The work of the Home Help is closely supervised by the
Health Visitor, who visits the patient's home several times during
the lying-in period in order to see that all duties are being carried
out as required. The duties of these women are set out in the following
form, a copy of which is handed to each one on her accepting
duty. In order that the Health Visitor may at once get into
touch with the case the Home Help is required to notify the
Medical Officer of Health not later than the day following the confinement
that she has commenced her duties.
DUTIES OF HOME HELPS.
1.—To act under the direct supervision of the Health Visitor
for 14 days following the confinement.
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. Payment
will not be granted to a Home Help if she undertakes in any way
the duties of a maternity nurse.
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, either in actual attendance on the
patient or engaged to attend her at a later date, 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 (Municipal Health
Offices, Stratford, E.15), that she has commenced her duties.
She is also required to notify the Medical Officer of Health at
once if she is unable to continue her duties, stating the reason
for this inability.
9.—Any conduct on the part of the Home Help which is
contrary to the interests of the person she is helping, or any failure
to comply with the above rules, 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,
Municipal Health Offices, Medical Officer of Health.
Romford Road, Stratford, E.15.
152