H.—22

12

During the early months of the year the work of this Hospital was much hampered by the outbreak of septicaemia which occurred in the Hospital. The patients, four in number, were removed to the isolation cottage, and no patients were admitted into the Hospital whose names were booked for admission, being either attended in their own homes or sent to private nursing homes, and in the meantime the Hospital was thoroughly disinfected and repainted. One patient, whose condition was complicated with tubercular disease, died, but the other made a good recovery, and there has been no further trouble. It was in contemplation to have some alterations and additions to the building, but the estimate for these was so high that it was considered better to defer any work for the present, and later to t>uild hospital wards on the ground, utilising the present building for administration and nurses' quarters only. It will, however, be necessary to build a laundry as soon as possible, and this work has been authorised. There have been eight pupil-nurses in training each term, and eight have been certificated and registered during the year. It is now inteded to rent a room or rooms outside, in order to accommodate two more, there being sufficient work for a larger number, and the list of applicants for training being long. Dr. Tracey Inglis is still medical officer of the Hospital, and doing excellent work, in which he is well supported by the Matron and Sub-matron, Miss Peiper and Miss Pan I. St. Helens Hospital, Christchurch. From the Ist April, 1908, till the 31st March, 1909, 222 patients were admitted into the Hospital, and there were 218 births and five stillbirths. There was one maternal death, and four deaths of infants. Ninety-two patients were attended in their homes, there being ninety-three births and three stillbirths. There was one death of a mother who was confined of triplets, and was also an eclamptic and alcoholic. The triplets also died. During this second year of its existence this Hospital has passed through a serious crisis. In September a case developed septicaemia, and a second case was infected. The Hospital was very full at the time, but the two patients were promptly isolated in the cottage and the Hospital closed to further admissions, while patients whose names were already booked were received into a private hospital, and attended by the St. Helens staff. A few were also sent to another private nursing home, and not attended. The first of the septic patients died, but the second made a good recovery. No reason was discovered for the development of sepsis ; but the first patient had previously, after operation for suppurating hydatid cyst, very nearly succumbed to septicaemia. The hospital was thoroughly fumigated and repainted throughout before cases were again received. The rest of the year was uneventful. The accommodation has at times been severely taxed. Some rooms have been rented outside for four nurses, and the rooms formerly used by them utilised for patients. It will be necessary in the near future to make additions to this Hospital, and it is proposed to build on the ground new hospital wards and offices, and to use the present building as administrative and admission departments and nurses' quarters. There have been eleven pupils in training in this Hospital during the year. Nine have received certificates, and are registered midwives. Additions are to be made to the laundry, and an isolation ward is to be built as soon as possible. There have been several changes on the staff. Dr. Alice Moorhouse resigned her position as Medical Officer on account of her marriage, and Dr. William Irving and Dr. Eleanor Bakei were appointed, the increasing work, both indoors and out of doors, of this Hospital affording work for two Medical Officers. Miss Inglis is still doing good work as Matron, and Miss Ludwig has been Sub-matron since October. In March, just about a month before the completion of two years' work, the mothers who had been confined in St. Helens, or attended in their homes by the nurses (by that time close on five hundred), were invited to bring their babies to afternoon tea in the Hospital grounds. Some 250 arrived, bringing babies varying in age from two or three months to nearly two years. Most of the infants were sturdy, well-developed children, and were a creditable testimony to the work of the Hospital. Appended is the statistical report of the four State maternity hospitals showing 1,122 patients confined—l,l4l births and five maternal deaths, six deaths of infants. Out of this total number 805 were in-patients. Four deaths occurred in the hospitals and one outside. The average days' stay in two of the hospitals was sixteen. This high average is accounted for by the fact that cases have, when advisable, been admitted for treatment before confinement, and kept in afterwards, seven patients being in the Wellington St. Helens for periods varying from thirty to ninety-five days. This last patient was treated for phthisis on the balcony, so was not actually occupying a bed in the hospital. Two cases were also kept in—one for five months after confinement and one for two months —these mounting up the average days' stay. The patients individually were usually kept in for fourteen days after confinement. The Medical School Maternity Hospital, Dunedin. From the Ist April, 1908, to the 31st March, 1909, 121 patients were admitted, and there were 116 births, two maternal deaths, four deaths of infants, and eight stillborn infants. This hospital has been visited three times during the year, last on the 18th February. There were only five patients in. The place has always been in good order. The work has largely increased in the last year. There are now five pupils in training ; three were trained during the year. This hospital being also a training school for medical students, the number of pupil-nurses is less than taken in the State maternity hospitals. A portion of the work is done by waiting patients, thus reducing expenses.