Report of the sub-committee on Poor Law Dispensaries, in relation to the general question of remedying the abuses of the Out-Patient Department of the public hospitals and dispensaries of the Metropolis / [Spencer Wells and others.

Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the sub-committee on Poor Law Dispensaries, in relation to the general question of remedying the abuses of the Out-Patient Department of the public hospitals and dispensaries of the Metropolis / [Spencer Wells and others. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    having any knowledge whatever of the requirements of the case. It is also found that the recent amalgamations of parishes and unions, and the reduction in the number of guardians, have resulted in so large and increased a tax upon the time of individual guardians that the introduction of the system of dispensaries has been greatly retarded, whilst the supervision is likely to be extremely imperfect, owing to the large number of workhouses, schools, infirmaries, &c., of which the various boards have charge. On these grounds it seems desirable to restore the indepen- dence of the Dispensary Committees, the more so as the representation upon them of Boards of Guardians is sufficiently secured. (3rd.) The Sub-committee are of opinion that the progress reported as to the establishment of dispensaries is by no means satisfactory ; and whilst they are glad to know that the attention of Dr. Bridges has been for some time past directed to the subject, and that the Poor Law Board has put some pressure upon certain Boards of Guardians, in order to induce them to adopt the dispensary system, yet that these steps do not absolve the Poor Law Board from the duty of issuing the orders and regulations, Avhich are necessary for their proper management and uniform introduction, and of placing them under the supervision of a qualified inspector. With respect to the first it may be observed that the form.s and regulations now in use were issued more than thirty years ago, and it is evident that they have failed to secure discrimi- nation in the administration of medical orders—the personal attendance of the officers, or continuous and kindly treatment of the sick; whilst they have afforded no sort of guarantee that proper medicines have been supplied. The Sub-com- mittee are of opinion that it is desirable that the Poor Law Board should issue a series of instructions to the guardians or managers, in respect both to the object of the law and the mode of carrying it out; such instructions to include regula- tions as to the classes entitled to medical relief—the nature of the relief to be given—the kind of premises required—the number, duties, and salaries of the officers employed—the regular personal performance of those duties—the I’egistration of disease and of its treatment—the economical provision of drugs and surgical appliances—in fact, such forms and regula- tions as are best calculated to secure an uniform and efficient administration of the law. With respect particularly to the provision and use of drugs, they would specially recommend their issue, as in the army and navy, from a common store, in which an officer should be employed to test their purity. The