Provident dispensary
Encyclopedia
A public dispensary, charitable dispensary or free dispensary gives advice and medicines free-of-charge, or for a small charge.
Examples of pre-20th century dispensaries for patients who could not pay a doctor's usual fee include:
In the 19th century it was not unusual in the United Kingdom to combine the subscription (provident) arrangement with charitable provision.
One of the earlier English cities to have a provident dispensary was Coventry
(dispensary opened in 1830) where, in the 1840s, members subscribed one penny a week for adults and a halfpenny a week for each of their children. This was seen as a suitable arrangement for working-class people who wanted to be provident and self-reliant, avoiding charitable treatment offered to 'paupers', but with no hope of paying the fees charged to wealthier people. A provident dispensary needed a few hundred 'club' members to pay for one doctor. Some dispensaries had extra funding from philanthropists, and some arranged for hospital specialists to see dispensary patients at reduced fees. Doctors at a few provident dispensaries, in London
for example, would visit patients at home.
A provident dispensary was opened in Buffalo, New York
in the second half of the 19th century.
In some places the same need might be met by friendly societies
organised by the members themselves. Provident dispensaries, on the other hand, were usually set up by prosperous well-wishers and/or by a doctor, as Sophia Jex-Blake
did in Edinburgh
, with support from a committee.
Examples of pre-20th century dispensaries for patients who could not pay a doctor's usual fee include:
- General Dispensary, London, England, founded 1770, also known as the Aldersgate Dispensary (received royal charterRoyal CharterA royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1844 to become Royal General Dispensary) - Public Dispensary of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded 1776 (received royal charter in 1818 to become Royal Public Dispensary of Edinburgh)
- Metropolitan Dispensary and Charitable Fund, London, England, founded 1779
- Finsbury DispensaryFinsbury DispensaryThe Finsbury Dispensary was a charitable dispensary dispensing medical treatment to the poor in Finsbury, London. It was founded in 1780 by a quaker, one George Friend. It operated from various premises during its existence in the 19th century, notably, between 1819 and 1838 it occupied a large,...
, London, England, founded 1780 - Carey Street Public Dispensary, London, England, founded 1783
- Bloomsbury Dispensary, London, England, founded 1801
- Public dispensary, Falmouth, Cornwall, founded 1807
- Dispensary for Chinese at MacauMedical missions in ChinaMedical missions in China by Protestant Christian physicians and surgeons of the 19th and early 20th centuries laid many foundations for modern medicine in China. Western medical missionaries established the first modern clinics and hospitals,provided the first training for nurses, and opened the...
, founded in 1820 by the Scottish missionary Robert Morrison and John Livingstone, a surgeon with the East India Company - Leeds Public Dispensary, England, founded 1824
- Sydney Dispensary, Australia, founded 1826
- City of London and East London Dispensary, England, founded 1849
- Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaThe Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. CHOP has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Parents Magazine in recent years. As of 2008, it was ranked #1 in the nation for...
, United States, founded 1855 - St. Mary's Dispensary for Women, London, England, founded 1866
- Edinburgh Provident Dispensary for Women and Children, Scotland, founded 1878
- Toronto Western HospitalToronto Western Hospital-External links:****...
, Canada, founded 1895
Provident dispensary
In the 19th and early 20th centuries a provident dispensary was a clinic offering medical care to people who made a small weekly payment as a kind of medical insurance. If and when they became ill they were entitled to out-patient treatment at the dispensary.In the 19th century it was not unusual in the United Kingdom to combine the subscription (provident) arrangement with charitable provision.
One of the earlier English cities to have a provident dispensary was Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
(dispensary opened in 1830) where, in the 1840s, members subscribed one penny a week for adults and a halfpenny a week for each of their children. This was seen as a suitable arrangement for working-class people who wanted to be provident and self-reliant, avoiding charitable treatment offered to 'paupers', but with no hope of paying the fees charged to wealthier people. A provident dispensary needed a few hundred 'club' members to pay for one doctor. Some dispensaries had extra funding from philanthropists, and some arranged for hospital specialists to see dispensary patients at reduced fees. Doctors at a few provident dispensaries, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for example, would visit patients at home.
A provident dispensary was opened in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in the second half of the 19th century.
In some places the same need might be met by friendly societies
Friendly society
A friendly society is a mutual association for insurance, pensions or savings and loan-like purposes, or cooperative banking. It is a mutual organization or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose...
organised by the members themselves. Provident dispensaries, on the other hand, were usually set up by prosperous well-wishers and/or by a doctor, as Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake was an English physician, teacher and feminist. She was one of the first female doctors in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, a leading campaigner for medical education for women and was involved in founding two medical schools for women, in London and in...
did in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, with support from a committee.