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Poor Law Institutions Order, 1913

The 1913 Poor Law Institutions Order was a major update of the ruless and regulations governing the operation of workhouses.

The Order gave Boards of Guardians greater autonomy in matters such as setting the classification of inmates, their daily timetable and dietary, bathing regulations, and the prohibition of particular articles being brought into the workhouse.

With regard to medical care, a trained nurse was now obligatory in all workhouse infirmaries. Infants below the age of eighteen months were to be medically examined at least once a fortnight. Proper medical records were to be kept, with a "record paper" system replacing the former medical relief book. Inmates assisting in sick wards were always to be supervised by an officer.

A major change for children was the instruction that from 31 March 1915, no healthy child was to reside in a workhouse for more than six weeks.

For paupers outside the workhouse, the "case paper" system, developed by the Charity Organisation Society, was to be adopted for recording detailed ongoing information about each out relief claimant.

The 1913 Order was notable for a change in official terminology. Workhouses were thenceforth to be referred to as a "poor law institutions", "paupers" as "poor persons", and infirmary inmates as "patients".

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