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KINGSEAT HOSPITAL I have the honour to present the annual report for the year ended December, 1948. The total number of cases under care during the year was 1,019 ; of these, 951 were subjects of a reception order and 68 were voluntary boarders. The weekly average number resident during the year was 846. The admissions totalled 148 ; 110 were certified patients of whom 31 were transfers from other institutions, and 38 were voluntary boarders. Sixty-one were discharged during the year and 29 were transferred to other institutions. At the end of the year 51 persons were well enough to be on probation in the care of relatives or friends. Fifty persons died during the year. In spite of the ageing population and the tendency for a considerable portion of our admissions to be seniles, the health of the patients has been remarkably good. We have been free from any epidemic. The improvement in the clinical equipment of the villas has continued. As far as is practicable we are endeavouring to have the simpler types of illness nursed in the individual villas rather than have them all brought to the hospital admission block. Your policy of brightening the furnishings of the villas and improving the general standard of variety in the clothing of patients is making itself apparent throughout the hospital. The Comforts Fund for patients continues to be a marked success. Much of the money paid to patients is spent in the canteen, the turnover of which has increased considerably. The patients benefit by the profits going to their own Recreation Fund. No patient who is capable of appreciating comforts is now without them. Every villa has been equipped during the year with a refrigerator. This is a great boon. A hairdresser has been appointed during the year, and whilst awaiting the building of a salon makeshift accommodation is being used. We now have a 16 mm. sound-film projector. There is a programme each week. As we lack a recreation-hall and have no suitable place for showing films, a patient's dining-room has to be cleared out for each film. This restricts the number of patients who can attend and necessitates the showing of films on alternate weeks to the male and female sides respectively. This form of entertainment is greatly appreciated by the patients. Occupational therapy has been carried on in the wards, but the building of an occupational block has not yet been commenced. In the latter part of the year we were without the services of a Tutor Sister ; however, with the help of the Tutor Sister from Raventhorpe and with extra work being carried out by our own staff, the training of our nursing staff was maintained, and over all there has been an improvement in the standard. The staff shortage on the male side has not been so acute, and on the female side, although acute, the number of applications indicate a. slight improvement in the interest in psychiatric nursing. Although the numerical strength of the female staff is much the same as last year, the solidity and quality has improved. Farming operations have been carried on as usual. The flower-gardens, orchard, and vegetable-gardens have now been put under the control of a Head Gardener; this should improve efficiency. During the year we had a visit from the Minister of Health, the Hon. Miss Howard. Patients and staff greatly appreciated her interest. Miss C. Jenkins, Assistant Matron, retired on superannuation during the year after many years service. It is with regret that I have to record the death during the year of Dr. E. K. Mulinder, Assistant Medical Officer. His passing has been a distinct loss to the hospital, and the sympathy of all the patients and the whole staff goes out to Mrs! Mulinder and her four young children.

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