Folios 251-254. Letter from Alfred Austin [Assistant Poor Law Commissioner], Worcester...

Folios 251-254. Letter from Alfred Austin [Assistant Poor Law Commissioner], Worcester to the Poor Law Commission. He has investigated the charges against Mr Fletcher [Thomas Swindell Fletcher], Medical Officer in the Bromsgrove Poor Law Union, for having neglected Mrs Ward and Mrs Pratt, despite having received notes to attend them from the relieving officer. He gives details of the Ward case and refers to statements made by Mr Ward on 9 and 16 October 1843. When he and the guardians examined Ward on 17 October 1843, his evidence was found to be unreliable. Specifically he said he purchased wine from the Crown at Catshill, but Mr Day [Thomas Day, Clerk to the Guardians of the Bromsgrove Poor Law Union] who keeps the inn said he did not sell wine; Ward later said he did not know if he bought wine, gin or brandy after Mr Horton attended his wife. He concludes that the charge of neglect cannot be sustained.

In the case of Mrs Pratt he notes that Mr Cotterill [Cottrill] the relieving officer gave Mr Pratt a note for medical relief. He records that Pratt's daughter called on Fletcher the day after the note expired; he promised to attend but did not do so until he was called again. Fletcher says that he did not attend because he did not believe that the family were destitute and in need of relief from the union, nor did he think it urgent enough to attend her as a private patient.

Austin finds that the neglect in this case is 'nothing more' than an 'erroneous opinion' by Fletcher that he could use his own judgement as to whether the Pratts were destitute. The Commission should write to him to point out that he should act on notes given to him by the relieving officer, although he should inform the latter afterwards of any facts relating to the means of support of people he attends. The Commission should also let the guardians know Austin's conclusions and that no further action will be taken. Copies of the correspondence should be sent to Fletcher and the Droitwich Poor Law Union.

Paper Number: 15749/B/1843.

Poor Law Union Number 526.

Counties: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.