As already alluded in an earlier section the roe of the dispensary went hand in hand with the workhouse and many of the same elected guardians also oversaw the work of these district committees. The committees largely oversaw the ticket system which was necessary for a person to obtain in order to avail of medical advice in the workhouse. They were also responsible for visiting houses to inspect on general health and cleanliness, and inspecting drains and other water sources to ensure that they were adequately maintained.
An example from the Draperstown district in 1884 showed that 301 new cases had come before the district dispensary in that year; 88 visiting tickets had been given out to inhabitants, while 163 vaccinations had been carried out. All of these statistics showed how improvements in medical care within the union obviously served to keep the numbers in the workhouse down. This in turn led to a reduction in the rates and ultimately kept the ratepayer happy. Of the 163 vaccinations carried out that year, almost all (152) had been on children under one year, thus greatly reducing the numbers of infant mortality.
