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43
POOR LAW RELIEF.
Hospitals and other forms of Gratuitous
Medical Relief.
The amount of Poor Law Relief is given herewith in the form of
the Guardians' Precepts for the last five years. I am indebted to the
Borough Treasurer, Mr. Charles, for his kindness in giving me the
figures:—
1921-22 169,698
1922-23 179,830
1923-24 165,393
1924-25 155,200
1925-26 153,297
The extent to which hospitals are used can be roughly estimated
by stating the number of deaths of inhabitants which occur in these
institutions. Only a small proportion, of course, terminate
fatally; consequently, judging from the percentage of deaths
which occur in such institutions as compared with the total
deaths for the borough it is clear that a very large number of the
inhabitants avail themselves of the facilities provided by, not only the
Greenwich and Deptford Hospital (Poor Law), but also the London
voluntary hospitals. The total deaths for the borough numbered 1399,
and of these 723 occurred outside the borough, mostly in hospitals.
The Miller Hospital is the local hospital, though it is situated in
Greenwich; it is a great boon to our people. Other inhabitants go to
Guy's, King's College, St. Thomas' and St. John's Hospital,
Lewisham. The latter, like the Greenwich and Deptford Hospital, is
highly spoken of by the people (as well, of course, as the other
hospitals). The Albury Street Babies' Hospital, situated in Albury
Street, is supported by voluntary funds. Dr. Kellett, the visiting
physician, died during the year. He was a faithful friend to the
poor and he will be missed. The Borough Council paid £50 a year
during 1925 for each of eight beds, the cases to be sent in by Dr. Hill
or the Medical Officer of Health. The Home has been of great use in
the treatment of marasmic or wasting babies and dietetic cases, as
well as in sub-acute cases generally. The Home is too small to have
a resident physician, which is somewhat of a limitation.