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St. Helens Hospital, Christchurch. From the 15th April, 1907, to the 3ist March, 1908, 150 patients were admitted, and-there were 148 births. Thirty-six patients were attended in their homes: there were 36 births, 2 deaths of infants. There were no maternal deaths either inside or out. Receipts from patients' and pupils' fees, £674 4s. lid.; expenditure for maintenance, £778 10s. 3d.; expenses, less fees, £104.55. 4d. This Hospital has been almost a year in working-order, having been opened by the Hon. Mr. Fowlds on the 15th April. It has proved to be equally as much needed as the three earlier hospitals. The beds have been constantly kept full, and a fair amount of outdoor work has been done. Owing to the more adaptable building and to the additions made to it in the shape of .operat-ing-rooms, bathrooms, and other offices, this Hospital is much more up to date and easier to work than any of the others. Here, also, is apparent the necessity for more room, every bed being frequently occupied; but it will be comparatively easy to remedy this, as a large room downstairs, now occupied as cubicles for nurses, can be converted into a ward, and proper quarters built for the nurses. There is no isolation ward, but a cottage in the garden occupied by the maid-servants could be used if occasion arose. The laundry at this hospital is convenient. It is a new building. The, grounds were nicely laid out and planted, and a large number of vegetables are grown, almost supplying the needs of the institution, and at very small expense—a man attending only once or twice a week. • i The staff appointed before the opening of the Hospital is still carrying on the work, and giving entire satisfaction—Dr. Alice Moorhouse as Ph3 r sician, Miss Inglis as Matron, and Miss Mackenzie as Sub-matron. The last-named, however, has resigned her post, and Miss Marion Hales has been appointed in her place. The work was commenced with four pupil-nurses, but there are now eight in residence. St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin. From the Ist April, 1907, to the 31st March, 1908, 201 patients were admitted, and there were 204 births, 1 maternal death, and 2 infant deaths. Twenty-three patients were attended in their homes : there were 23 births and 2 infant deaths. Receipts from patients' and pupils' fees, £850 16s. 6d. ; expenditure for maintenance, £1,100 12s. 7Jd. ; expenses, less fees, £250 16s. ljd. The property rented by the Government and used for the State Maternity Hospital in Dunedin was purchased in December for £2,250. The house, needs extensive alterations and additions to render it at all suitable for the work. -Some of these are to be undertaken at once, and will make a great improvement, but will not add to the accommodation, which, if the work is to proceed as it should, must shortly, be increased. The nurses' quarters are very cramped and unsuitable. There is room in the grounds for a nurses' cottage to be built, or rooms could be added to the house. It will also be en,sy to add more wards for the patients, so it is hoped that in the near future these necessary additions will be undertaken. An isolation ward is most urgently needed, as exemplified in Wellington and Auckland. The first and only death occurred in this Hospital in December, from nephritis. There have been no changes in the staff, Dr. Siedeburg, Miss Holford, and Miss Gow continuing to do excellent work in their respective offices. Eight pupil-nurses are in residence, and eleven have already been trained. Many patients have returned for a second confinement here. St. Helens Hospital, Auckland. From the Ist April, 1907, to the 31st March, 1908, 179 patients were admitted, and there were 180 births and 2 maternal deaths. Fifty-one patients were attended in their homes: there were 51 births, no deaths. Receipts from patients' and pupils' fees, £776 125.; expenditure for maintenance, £96.2 4s. 2d.;. expenses, less fees, £185 12s. 2d. During this second year of work St. Helens, Auckland, has proved a great source of help to the class of people for whom it was established. Mothers who have once been confined there have applied for admission a second time, sctiA one mother, whose circumstances had improved so much that she was no longer eligible for admission, wrote regretting the fact, and engaged, " as next best," one of the nurses trained during her time of treatment in the Hospital. Every available bed has frequently been in use in this Hospital, and it will be necessary, as soon as possible, to increase the accommodation for both patients and nurses. The means for carrying out asepsis are most primitive, and should be put on a more up-to-date basis. This can be done without very great expenditure, and it is hoped to put it in hand this year ; but nothing can alter the fact that an ordinary dwellinghouse, with its narrow passages and many inconveniences, cannot be made into a really suitable hospital. The isolation cottage which was erected at the end of 1906 was urgently needed during the last month, when an outbreak of septicaemia occurred in the Hospital. No cause could be assigned for this, but the disease has been largely prevalent in Auckland lately. The patients were removed to the isolation cottage, .. and are so far, with the exception of one, who had other complications and was in a very bad state of health when admitted, doing well, and it is to be hoped will all recover. The Hospital is being thoroughly disinfected, painted, and renovated, and will be ready for patients at an early date. The isolation cottage, not having been required before for patients, has been used for the accommodation of the night-nurses, but will no longer be available for them.

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