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SECTION 29: DOMESTIC HELP.
While there was a small increase in the new cases accepted during 1955, the number of
cases remaining on the books at the end of the year has risen considerably and indicates that
the demand for this service has maintained an upward trend. The increase in demand has again
been in the older age groups more especially from 60 - 80. As has been stated before, this
trend is likely to become more pronounced in a few years owing to the steadily ageing
population and the tendency for young people to move outside the Borough.
Corresponding with the increase in the proportion of old people receiving the service
the number of free cases has also risen. On the other hand, applications for tuberculous
and maternity cases have fallen considerably, probably the result of the decline in the
notifications of tuberculosis, the more ready availability of T.B. beds and the increasing
tendency for maternity cases to be admitted to hospital.
An important development in the service arose out of discussions aiming at the coordination
of the efforts of this department and Langthorne Hospital to provide a more
efficient service for the aged sick. The Home Help Organiser and Geriatric Liaison Health
Visitor work in close co-operation with the Senior Medical Officer and Social Workers of
Langthorne Hospital to meet the social needs, including domestic help, of patients awaiting
admission to or discharged from hospital.
A difficulty experienced in the past has been the matter of cleansing male verminous
cases. A male Home Help took over this work, treating the cases at Stock Street Clinic.
This arrangement has proved most successful.
Home Helps gave 1,018 hours service to maternity cases during the year, which was
equivalent to 0.44 full-time home help continuously employed.
New Cases.
Maternity cases - all cases were covered for a period of 14 days.

Continuing over, into 1956 7 275
84