15

H.—3l

Note by Medical Officer. —The number of patients has increased by forty-nine. There have been no maternal deaths. The percentage of temperature cases is markedly smaller than in any other year of the Hospital's work, in spite of a large number of difficult deliveries. This proves conclusively the benefit of the new building. The relief from anxiety and ease of working are an inestimable benefit to the staff. Being able to accommodate country patients for some time before labour has been of undoubted benefit to the patients. In one case the wife of a backblocks beekeeper who had aborted in previous pregnancies from prolapsus uteri was kept at rest in the Hospital over the dangerous period. She is now the possessor of a full-time healthy child. The pupil-nurses in first term of 1912 suffered from the adverse conditions of the latter months in the old building, together with illness and the move to the new quarters; the latter-term pupils quite restored the reputation of the Wellington St. Helens. St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin. From the Ist April, 1912, to the 31st March, 1913, 195 cases were confined, 195 children were born alive, and there were five still-births. There was one maternal death, and three deaths of infants, two of these premature —seven months, and one a weakling at birth. Forty-one patients were attended in their homes, and forty-one children born. There has been nothing of special importance to record during the year. Under Dr. Child's medical care the excellent record of the Hospital was maintained. Dr. Siedeberg returned in January and resumed her duties. The new isolation ward was erected, but fortunately has not been in use. A third trained midwife was added to the staff. Ten pupil-nurses were trained during the year. Note by Medical Officer. —There was a large number of premature births, although only two died. Two sets of twins were premature, one at seven months and one at eight months ; these all lived. The total of premature births was twenty-one, varying in prematurity from two weeks to two months. One baby had a slight webbing of the second and third toes on both feet. The mother had the same deformity ; the child had also a slight hypospadias. One baby was born with rigidity at all the flexures ; complete extension was impossible at the axilla, elbows thigh, knee, and ankle. The maternal death had a curious history. She was a primipara of forty years, and had been treated for two weeks previously for heavy albuminuria, with oedema of limbs and body. When admitted, two days before labour, her pulse was 130. The first stage was long and difficult, and as soon as possible delivery was effected by forceps. During the first stage she suddenly complained that something had ruptured in the region of the liver. Almost immediately she became delirious ; the skin became more and more yellow ; continuous diarrhoea and involuntary micturition set in, stool and urine both being brightyellow. In three days she was mahogany-coloured. She gradually sank, and died in ten days. St. Helens Hospital, Auckland. From the Ist April, 1912, to the 31st March, 1913, 236 cases were confined and 236 children born alive. There were seven still-births, including triplets. There were two maternal deaths and four deaths of infants. In their own homes 217 patients were attended, and 216 children were born alive. There were no maternal deaths, no deaths of infants ; one still-birth. Towards the latter end of the year very serious accusations were brought against the administration of this Hospital, and especially against the doctor and Matron, even to the length of one of the complainants accusing them of deliberate murder. It was decided by the Government that it was best to thoroughly investigate the charges, and a Royal Commission, which was under Mr. Kettle, S.M., was set up, and sat in January and February. The result was that the staff was exonerated from the charges, and that, in the words of the Commissioner, " Having regard to the very unfavourable conditions under which the work has been carried on, there is no real ground for complaint. . . . The evidence satisfies me that the certificated nurses and pupil-nurses have performed their duties satisfactorily and have had a proper appreciation of their duties and responsibilities. ... It must be admitted that the results as shown by these returns are most satisfactory." A cottage adjoining the Hospital has been rented and renovated for the nursing staff, thus giving them fairly comfortable quarters and releasing a large room in the Hospital for the accommodation of four patients. The staff continues to do good work to the satisfaction of the Department. There have been thirteen pupil-nurses trained during the year, two of whom were free pupils for country districts. Note by Medical Officer. —The year has been, on the whole, a quiet and successful one. Both the Matron and the Sub-matron have worked well. The nurses have been successful, nineteen qualifying and none failing in the examinations. There were fewer admissions during the latter months, owing, no doubt, to the effect of the St. Helens inquiry. Strange to say, however, during the same months the district work increased greatly. The Hospital passed successfully through a long public inquiry held by Mr. C. C. Kettle. A striking feature of this was that, although the inquiry was spread over nearly three months, there was only one direct complaint on behalf of a patient (Mrs. Stevenson), in spite of the fact that Mr. Kettle on several occasions publicly asked for complaints. All the complaints were brought forward by Mrs. E. Nicol, and even of these all ex-patients who were examined professed themselves satisfied with their treatment. The new hospital is still urgently needed ; if the present site could be enlarged, Ido not think we could get a more central one. The hospital mua+ \e near the