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In addition to the above, 22 children under the age of 15 years were sent to
convalescent homes on the recommendation of the Consultant Chest Physician, as part of the
preventive care and after-care of tuberculous patients.
3. Health Education,
During the year Health Education was continued over a wide field. Talks supplemented
by films and models are given by staff at the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics. Lectures
and films on health matters have also been given by the Council's medical officers on a
number of occasions to various organisations, including Parent and Teacher Associations, and
Youth Organisations. The active campaign against food poisoning was continued through the
West Ham Clean Pood Advisory Association, which is sponsored by the Council. Education of
the youth of the community in the importance of clean food has been given special attention.
On other health subjects education of the public has been carried out by means of
posters and leaflets.
SECTION 29: DOMESTIC HELP.
The data given below show that the upward trend in the number of cases receiving
help continued during the year. The number of applicants under 50 years of age has
decreased and there has been a considerable increase of those in the 70/79 year age group.
The Home Help Service is, therefore, becoming increasingly one for the support of the aged
and infirm. Its value in helping old folk to remain in tolerable comfort at home is very
great. The number of free cases has practically doubled (275 as compared with 140 in 1952).
The total amount of service given during the year was about the same as in 1952.
but the average number of hours per week per case was reduced from six to five.
There was little change in the nature of the illnesses or infirmities for which
domestic help was required.
There was, however, a further decline in the number of applications from maternity
cases, and the number in which the application was pursued to the extent that the family
actually received the service was small indeed. It seems very unlikely that these figures
represent the real need. There Is reason to believe that the tired or harassed mother
is more likely to have a stillbirth, miscarriage or premature delivery than her relatively
tranquil sister. With the increase this year in the number of stillbirths and neo-natal
deaths, and the considerable number of premature births, it is difficult to avoid the
impression that many more mothers could have benefited by the rest which a Home Help could
provide, as much - or even more so - in the ante-natal period as at the time of the confinement,
The reasons for not pursuing their request for domestic help are variously given by
applicants as expense; inadequate number of hours service usually allowed in maternity
cases; or preference for the help of a friend or someone known to the family, at such a
time. Whatever the cause, the amount of use made of the service for maternity cases is
rather disturbingly small, and it may be that if mothers could be encouraged to take more
advantage of it a useful contribution could be made towards the preservation of Infant
health and life.
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