London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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SECTION 29: DOMESTIC HELP.
General Home Help.
The number of cases on the register at the end of the year still continues to show
an increase over previous years. The number of applications during 1956, however, have
decreased slightly. This is a reverse of the previous pattern which showed a steady increase
in applications year by year. The age group mostly affected by this decrease is the under TO
years in which applications have dropped by 3.7% as against last year's figure. The demand
for home help from the over 70's continues to increase.
Tuberculosis.
The number of cases supplied with home help for the first time during 1956 remained
the same as in the previous year. Of the 13 cases provided with home help for the first
time 6 were in the under 50 group.
Maternity.
Applications for home help for maternity cases continued on the downward trend.
Seventeen applications were made but only 10 received the service due to cancellation by
the other seven.
General Sickness, Aged and Infirm Cases.
| Number of applications received | 372 | |||
| Number withdrawn or refused | 41 | |||
| New cases accepted during 1956 | 331 | Males | 76 | 331 |
| Females | 255 | |||
| Number of cases on books at end of 1955 | 767 | |||
| Total number of oases receiving home help during 1956 | 1,098 | |||
| Number of cases on books at end of 1956 | 771 | |||
Ages of Applicants to whom home help was supplied for the first time:-
| Under 50 | 22 | 6.7 |
| Between 50/59 | 20 | 6.0 |
| Between 60/69 | 67 | 20.2 |
| Between 70/79 | 167 | 50.5 |
| Between 80/89 | 48 | 14.5 |
| Between 90/99 | 7 | 2.1 |
| 331 | 100# | |
| Cases assessed to pay | 40 | |
| Cases free | 291 | |
| Average number of hours of service per case per week | 3.3 | |