Folios 224-228. Letter from T S Fletcher, [Thomas Swindell Fletcher, Medical Officer],...

Folios 224-228. Letter from T S Fletcher, [Thomas Swindell Fletcher, Medical Officer], to the Poor Law Commission. He understands that Mr Day [Thomas Day, Clerk to the Guardians of the Bromsgrove Poor Law Union] has forwarded the information he gave to the board last Monday, relating to statements Mr Ward [John Ward] made on previous occasions. He encloses copies of these marked 1 and 2. The charge is founded on Mr Horton's [Joseph Horton's] certificate, which accuses him of having neglected the case for ten days [from 18 September to 27 September 1843], Ward having made no complaint till the board summoned him. He explains the sequence of events, points out that the medical note said 'good only until 23 September' and draws attention to the careless way that, when his wife got worse, Ward sent Mrs Kendrick, his wife's mother, to Mrs Rutter [Hannah Rutter] to tell her to go to Fletcher's surgery in the morning for an opening medicine for her bowels. He did not have any further intimation that Mrs Ward was worse. Ward did not call when he was in town, but complained to Mr Smith of Fletcher's neglect. He called on the Wednesday [27 September 1843], as the message suggested retention of urine, but there was no sign of it as the water had been drawn off. He did not know Horton was attending until the next day. Mrs Ward was under his care in January and February, on 5 June 1843 and from July onwards.

Enclosed copy of a statement by Ward of [Penny Pott] to the guardians, dated 9 October 1843. He recounts the events relating to his wife's illness, including the fact that Mr Wyatt, the relieving officer, gave him a note and that Fletcher attended on 18 September 1843, but did not come when subsequently called by Ward and his wife's sister. On the advice of Smith of the Valley, he called Horton who relieved his wife's bowels with castor oil. Horton advised his wife take wine and gave him a note for Mr Cottrill [Cotterill], the relieving officer. Fletcher came shortly before she died. [Mr Harris] saw her case.

Enclosed copy of Ward's and Rutter's statement dated 14 October 1843. Ward says that he did not call for Fletcher between 17 and 25 September 1843 because there was no change in his wife's condition. Rutter went to Fletcher on 25 September 1843. He called old Mr Horton on the advice of Mr Smith, but his son attended. The note he gave to Cottrill was written by Horton. On the same day he went to Fletcher's surgery and was given a note for relief but did not show it to anyone. He continues with further details of the note and the medicine prescribed (castor oil and wine). Rutter is wife to William Rutter and Mrs Ward's sister. She states that her mother gave her the [illegible ticket] which she took to Fletcher's surgery. She describes the consultation and how she asked him to change the medicine. He would not see Mrs Ward, but said she was to continue the medicine. These statements were taken by [illegible] in Fletcher's presence.

Annotated: Mr Austin [Alfred Austin, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner] with the other papers, in the first instance.

Paper Number: 14439/B/1843.

Poor Law Union Number 526.

Counties: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.