Castletown workhouse Board of Guardians (BG59)

Castletown Board of Guardians

IE CCCA/BG/59

such, and that the master and matron be superannuated, thereby giving the guardians an approximate saving of £200 per an num’. [Passed on 6 Mar 1919. See also later minutes, e.g., 17 Apr 1919, where the LGB make reference to boarding out of remaining inmates in Bantry workhouse, and 29 May 1919, where Bantry union express willingness to receive Castletown inmates] 20 Mar 1919 Letter from the Medical Officer of the workhouse, referring to ‘insinuations’ that he gave ‘medical certificates to undeserving patients’, and to the hiring of extra nurses. He notes that nurses ‘were never got but when they were required for the welfare of the patients (the majority of whom are ratepayers) and whose interests the guardians are elected to protect’. Letter from a former inmate, now on out door relief, requesting a pair of boots ‘as those he has are not fit for further use and he has no means to get another pair’. The board request sanction, noting this man was an inmate for over 20 years until the military occupied the workhouse. 15 May 1919 Resolution asking the LGB to consider the board’s claim for payment from the military up to 31 M arch last, noting ‘as there seems to be no likelihood of the military surrendering the workhouse premises, we cannot go on indefinitely paying money on their behalf’. 12 Jun 1919 Letter from the medical officer, Castletown Dispensary District, requesting two days leave to go to Bandon ‘to examine the members of the R.I.C. alleged to have been injured near Eyries’.

26 Jun 1919 Order in reply to LGB letter stating ‘the number at pres ent on outdoor relief is eight ( 8), viz. 4 men and 4 women’.

10 Jul 1919 L GB circular stating that 17 July ‘has been fixed as the date for the public celebration of peace, which marks the termination of the war, and stating they will raise no objection to the day being observed as a holiday’. ‘No order made’ by the board in resp onse. Letter from the medical officer, Castletown Dispensary District, ‘calling attention to the large number of defaulters under the Vaccination Acts in his district’. 7 Aug 1919 Notice of payments received from the Admiralty and from the Royal Air Force for maintenance of patients in the hospital. Resolution asking whether the military ‘can now surrender the portion of the workhouse used formerly as a hospital, as our present hospital accommodation is very limited and primitive. Now that the war is over we see no reason for the military requiring the entire house’. Extracts from LGB medical inspector’s report regarding dispensary districts, including the observation that the dispensary midwife’s duties ‘are practically nil’. [See also 18 Sep 1919, letters from the union’s two midwives explaining that ‘the poor... have a great objection to applying for tickets especially for maternity cases’, and that they pay small fees instead].

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