Reading Dispensary Trust

The Chain Street Dispensary was rebuilt in 1848: (Reading Mercury 13 May 1848). Pevsner: Buildings of England, Berkshire (1966) describes it as 'a nice five-bay palazzo' and attributes it to 1840. It was demolished in 1980.]

<span class="wrapper"><p>Records in other collections</p> <p>Committee of governors' : general meeting minutes, 1802-1825 D/EX 1426/1/1</p> <p>Annual report, 1858 D/EX 1426/2/1</p> <p>Annual reports, 1870-1909 D/EX 1426/2/2-4</p> <p>Annual reports, 1910-1921, 1939 (incomplete) D/EX 1426/2/5-6</p></span>

The Reading Dispensary Trust was established in November 1802 to provide medical services (advice, treatment and medicine, and later vaccination) for the 'industrious poor' of Reading, principally at the Dispensary building in Chain Street, which opened in 1803. The Chain Street Dispensary was rebuilt in 1848: (Reading Mercury 13 May 1848). Pevsner: Buildings of England, Berkshire (1966) describes it as 'a nice five-bay palazzo' and attributes it to 1840. It was sold in c.1967 and demolished in 1980.

From 1870 the charity ran a Provident Scheme, members of which paid an annual subscription in return for medical care for themselves and their families; by 1872 there were over 5000 members. The charity continued to provide free care for the indigent (if nominated by a Governor or the minister of a church who made offerings to the charity) under what was known as the Gratuitous System. It had separate departments to provide midwifery, dental treatment and vaccination services, and by 1901 there was a department for eye and skin diseases. A second branch dispensary was opened in Wokingham Road, Rading, in 1892, and a third was in existence in Oxford Road, 1903-1904. In 1905 a department for women's diseases was opened under the leadership of Reading's first female doctor, Mary Cruikshank.

After the passing of the National Health Insurance Act 1911, all the medical staff resigned in January 1913, and the Dispensary was leased to the Borough of Reading Medical Society, who took over the operation of the service, which now covered all those whose employers paid National Insurance premiums. The trust's Governors were still entitled to nominate poor persons for free treatment there, and also made direct grants for medical treatment, nursing care, medically required foods, etc. The Provident Scheme also continued to operate for those not covered by the National Health Insurance Act.

The introduction of the Welfare State and establishment of the National Health Service in 1948 removed the need for much of the charity's work. From this date it made grants towards things not covere dby the NHS, such as convalescent stays, medical boots, massage, etc.

The charity was reorganised by a new Scheme in 1975. From this date it made grants to ill and disabled individuals, including those with learning difficulties, and to organisations assisting the same. Grants were normally made for specific items of equipment or convalescent holidays, to pay bills (e.g. for heating), or as vouchers for food and clothing.

A detailed history of the trust can be found on their website, https://readingdispensarytrust.org.uk/full-history/, last accessed 10/2022.