I got quite a surprise this week when I went into the Ancestry site and saw the following regarding my grandmother.  
It's sad to think that she had no-one she could turn to in her time of need, the only place which could help her was the workhouse (see below).  I don't recall anyone ever talking about this part of her life.

Records of Workhouse (institution) Woolwich Road, Greenwich, 1916.

a formidable-looking place

10 May: Admitted from Infirmary.

13 May, 0955, sought relief (of friends).  Violet Florence Gaspar, Barmaid, 184 New Cross Road*. Friend Mrs White, 107 Brockley Road. (born 1897), St Pauls district. Destitute.

June 15, 6.30: discharged from infirmary of work house and sent to Infirmary

Then 

Thursday 13 July, 3.00. Violet Gaspar, single, barmaid, 184 New Cross Road, Friend Mrs White 107 Brockley Rd, CE, b 1897, St Pauls.

July 22, 1.45: Discharge from infirmary, Violet Gaspar, removed to St Pancras.

*The is the address of the The White Hart.

Mrs White mentioned above who brought her to the workhouse in is seen in 1911 Census as follows:

107 Brockley Road, Lewisham: William white, head, married under a year, no children, Clerk (Butchers), shipping, worker, b Deptford, London, British

Florence White, wife, 31, b Whitehapel, British

Eliza Bennett, boarder, 58 widow, 2 children (1 living one died),  b blackwall, british

George Porter, visitor 24, single, gas fitter, commercial gas co, worker, b Whitechapel, british

Information about workhouses from Ancestry: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60391

All about workhouses: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Workhouse

... and 
Greenwich Workhouse in particular: http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Greenwich/