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53
Asylums Board with reference to the proposed Agreements
with the Vestries and District Boards in the Metropolis, for the
reception and treatment at the Managers' Hospitals of so-called
non-pauper patients, for which provision was made by section
15 of the Poor Law Act, 1879 The subject being important,
and the Managers being anxious to settle it upon a satisfactory
basis, I think it well, upon the ground of historical interest, to
recall the circumstances out of which it arose, and to explain
the present position of affairs.
It may be said, then, that prior to the passing of the
above-named Act, the Managers had no legal power to receive
"non-paupers" at their hospitals. But they did admit, without
question, whatever patients were sent by relieving officers; so
that, in parishes and districts where (as in this parish) a good
understanding prevailed between the Vestry or District Board
and the Poor Law Guardians, the Sanitary Authority had no
difficulty in obtaining admission orders for other than strictly
pauper patients. But in parishes and districts where the
Guardians refused to remove “non-paupers," the Sanitary
Authority was placed in a difficulty, there being, practically,
no hospitals, other than those of the Asylums Board, available
for the reception of such cases. Certain Vestries and District
Boards, placed in this difficulty, and being desirous of arranging
with the Managers for the admission of "non-pauper"
cases, made representations to the Local Government Board
with the view to enabling legislation. A deputation, moreover,
waited upon the Board, in March, 1879, with reference to the
subject (Mr. Lindsay, a member of your Vestry, being spokesman),
the result being the passing of the 15th Section of the
Poor Law Act, 1879, above referred to, by which the Managers
were authorised, with the sanction of the Board, to enter into
contracts with any of the Metropolitan "Nuisance Authorities."
But the section was not put into operation, and as time went on,
the restrictions with regard to admission of patients were tacitly
allowed to fall into abeyance. To such an extent indeed that,