ST. HELENS HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15100, 24 March 1911, Page 2

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL

A LONG RECORD OF SUCCESS.

HON. MR FOWLD'S CONGRATULATORY SPEECH.

Over 1000 babies have seen the light of day for tho first time in St. Helens Hospital in Dunedin. . An "At Homo" was held in the Hospital growide yesterday to celebrate the birth of tho thousandth child, to look back at t.ho success that has attended the institution so far in its oareer, and to view as far as possible tho prospect for ' coming years. An additional topic of conversation was furnished by the information'that tho institution has already entered upon another thousand, the first member of which made her appearance about 14 hours before the proceedings in connection with tho "At Home" commenced.

It was a unique and very interesting gathering. It was not oxpected that the 1000 babies would patronise the gathering, but tho majority of them surely did. There were babies galore. And how happy and contented and tidy they all looked. There was very little crying, ono little " howler," a wo&k old, was already cutting a tooth, so overybody excused him. But tho majority of tho others seemed to know they were on show, , nnd they behaved accordingly. Of course, special interest attached to tho cherubs ticketed No. 999 and No. 1000—the former a boy, the latter a girl— and very many were tho requests made to the nurses who had them in charge for a peep at their little faces. No. 1001, another girl, was also an object o{ popular faiticy. gathering included the Hon. Mr Fowlds (Minister in charge of Hospitals and Charitable Institutions), and Mrs Fowlds, members of Parliament, representatives of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, members of the medical profession, members of tho Eugenics Society, and many prominent citizens. Apologies wore received from the Hon. Mr Millar (Minister, of Railways), Hon. Sir G. M'Lean, Hon. J. T." Paul, Hov. Piofessor Hcwitson, Dr Malcolm, Dr Tizaid, Rev. Curzon-Siggers, Messrs C. A. C. Hardy, M.P., J. C. Thomson, M.P., and others. The Hon, Mr Millar's telegram from Wellington was as follows:—" I have to thank you for your very kind invitation -to bo present at the ceremony this evening to celobrato tho thousandth birth at the St. Helens Hospital in Dunedin. I regret exceedingly that it is impossible for me to bo away from Wellington, and have the pleasure of being- present. I beg to congratulate you and your staff upon the splendid record achieved by the institution. It is fulfilling in this best sense the work of humanity for which it wea founded by our late revered Prime Minister, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon."

The assemblage commenced to gather shortly after 2 o'clock. Seats and forms wore provided all through tho grounds, proving most welcome to tho visitors. The Witness protographer was busy h'ere and there snapping groups of beaming matrons with their little ones around them. Eβ also managed to secure an' interesting group composed of the Hon. Mr Fowlds, Mrs. Fowlds (holding baby No. 1000), and Miss Holford, the matron (holding baby No. 999). Everything went merrily,, aided to some extent by the music and to a greater extent by the cups- of tea which wero banded round in liberal supply, and a. little after 3 o'clock the Minister addressed the crowd, giving the only speech of tho afternoon. He spoke from the bank in front of the cottage (the nurses' quarters) being supported on his right by baby No. 1000 and on his left by baby No. '999, both i,n the arms of nurses.

The Hon. Mr Fowlds said a Minister of the Crown, in the course of his daily duties, had many interesting functions to attend and numerous important duties to perform. The institution under -whose auspices they had met that day was, in his opinion, one of tho most important in New Zealand. No greater monument would stand to the memory and to the humanitarian instincts of the late Right Hon. Richard Seddon.— (Applause.) Not' only did these hospitals provide the opportunity for confinement under circumstances that very 'few women would secure in, their homes, but they were performing a much more important work in the training of midwives. The training being given to tho nurses was, he was informed by those in'a. position to judge, equal to that given in the best institutions of the kind either in Australia or at Home —(applause),—so that in the days to come tlieiy might expect to have in. Now. Zea. : land a highly-trained staff of nurses, who would be able, to make a trying time, in the lives of women easier and saier than it had been, in days gone by. The success that had attended tno Dunedin institution had been phenomenal, and it was well that they should have gathered that day to congratulate the doctor in charge, the matron, and the staff on the work they had accomplished. During the je-w years of the existence of the institution it had turned out 40 certificated midwives, while eight pupils wore now in training. No less than 1000 confinements had taken place, with only one maternal death. That was a record, he thought, that could not be beaten by any similar institution ■in the world.—(Applause.) There had been 1013 births, 13 being twins, and tho number of still births had been comparatively small. Then 96 per cent, of tho mothers had taken home a living child, and 145 mothers had been patients more than once, 22 of these- havings been throe times, and two four times. Sixty-two patients, who had been booked to come in—mostly country cases—were unable to get in in time—(laughter),—which rather reduced tho annual returns. In addition, 90 patients had been treated by the hospital'staff in their own homes, and , in none of these cases was there, a maternal death. Forty-h'vo casis had been attended b; the St. Helen's pupils with outside doctors. The institution provided for patients who were unable to afford a doctor or a certificated nurso's servioes. These cases could engage tho necessary attention for tho confinement and for daily visits for 10 days in their own homes for tho modest fee of £1. In addition, doctors could obtain nurses at any hour for an emergency case, which was, lie was sure, a great boon to the doctor as well a 8 the patient.—(''Hear, hear.") For attendance at a confinement only the fee was 10s, and whero the patient was unablo to afford tho services of a good nurse to remain tho nurss-would pay daily visits for 10 days for a fee of £I.—(Applause.) Patients who could not afford a certificated nurso could obtain the services of St. Helen's pupils with their own doctor for a fee of-£1 for daily attendance only. Unfortunately, thesa privileges could not be extended to patients residing too far from tho hospital, as the pupils could not be away from it for any length of time while in training. He thought they might heartily and unanimously congratulate Miss ' Holford on the wonderful success of the institution.— (Applause.) But Miss Holford had desired him to congratulate and to join with her in congratulating the staff, past and present, whoso loyalty and obedience to the doctor, the sub-matron, and herself had at all times been unswerving, and to whom very much of the success was due. These hospitals were undoubtedly performing useful servioes, and he was desirous of seeing similar work extended throughout Now Zealand. Soon after ho assumed office ho felt thero was need for greater opportunities for tho training of midwives, and now. he was glad to say, one' or two country he* pitals were making provision for dealing with maternity cases and for tho training of midwives. In some parts of the country districts it was difficult to get the services of trained midwives. Tho Government must provide, to the utmost of its power, opportunities of training midwives. and ho hoped that before long they would bo able to say that the supply was- equal to the demand.—(Applause.) At tho present time, ho was sorry to say, they wero not in that nosition.

The Minister then performed a pleasing ceremony, presenting to baby 999—Master Patrick—a bank-book with n. credit entry for ss, and to baby. No. 1000—Miss Helen Geary—a hank-book with a credit entry for 10s, wishing each of tho little recipients long life and still greater wealth.— (Applause.) Ho ateo intimated thai, that aftsrncon a letter had como to hand enclosing a cheque for £1 Is from Miss Besie Hume, who desired tho sum to ba divided between the two babice.—(Applause.) In conclusion, he wished long lifo and happiness to tho many infants connected with the hospital, and expressed the hope that thoy would yet exercise a beneficial influence on the destinies of Now Zealand.—(Applause.) Dr Church, on behalf of tho St. Helens staff, proposed a vote of thanks to tho Hon. Mr Fowlds for his addrcss.

This mas carried by acclamation. More, afternoon tea followed, and more inspection by proud mothers of somebody else's baby, nnd thcro was more music. Miss Holford, as hostess, was most attentive to her guests, but there wore so many ex-patients so pleased to «je hex again that it was difficult for her to thread her way among tho crowd. It was certainly complimentary to her that eho was so besieged. By 4 o'clock the orowd began to dwindle, and an hour later there wero

few evidences in the garden of tho happy afternoon that eo many had spent there.

DR SIEDEBERG INTERVIEWED,

THE SUCCESS OF THE HOSPITAL.

The exceptionally favourable record of this hospital is attributed by Dr Siedeberg to tho treatment accorded to patients during tho last few moiir , of their term. Obstetricians are reoogi.. j more and" , moro tho importance of attending to tho gonoral health of tho mothers before the birth of the child, and in tho newest matornity hospitals a epecial ward is now attachotl for tho treatment beforehand of thceo cases which show -singe of diseases that would complicate' labour either for tho mother or child. Although there is no special ward in this hospital for theso cases, patiente aro admitted beforehand on tho recommendation of the doctor, and if they cannot be iidmitted, a coureo of treatment is laid down for them to carry out in their own homes, and they are recrucetad to report their condition from time to time In many of theso cases healthy children have, been torn whore thero hae been a previous history of misfortunes. The cases causing most anxiety have been those sent in ae emergencies by outside doctors who havo recognised the risk, either to. mother or child, in attending them at their own homos without appliances and the continual supervision of day and night nuressj- or those ' who have booked late and have not roported their condition of ill-health. Mothers aro also advi6ed how to manage their'health for future occasions.

HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION. When the Midwives Registration Act of 1904 cams into force .every woman undertaking tho responsibilities of a midwife was required to show that she was competent to perform her task. This necessarily limited the number of women who could be found in any district to attend a case of labour at a low charge, and to meet the difficulty St. Helens Hospitals wcro established by the Government _ 'n each of. tho four centres in the Dominion, whero tho wives of working men could obtain, at a' fixed' charge, car© and attendance during childbirth. The institution in Dunedin was opened by the Right Hon. Mr.Scddon on the 30th September, 1905. A large house in Regent road, formerly the residence of Mr M. Joel, was rented, and subsequently purchased for £2250. The houso was not altogether suitable for its purpcee. In 1907 extensive additions and alterations wore made, and a. balcony was built round two sides of the building, getting northern light and , sunshine. One !end of this is partly enclosed with glass, and has ken found invaluable for putting outside the mothers and infants. A second firo escape was also added. Early in ISO 9 an adjoining property was 'purchased, which will give ample room in the future for extension, and a cottage on the land bsing used for the accommodation of the nurses, seven moro beds became available in the hospital. It is intended to erect an isolation ward on the new property. Dr Emily H. Siedebeig is in charge. Miss Holford is matron, and Miss Gow sub-riiatron, and there are eight pupilnursee. Dr Siedeberg is also lecturer to tho nurses. • The ladies named have occupied their present post since the opening of tho hospital. Tho primary object aimed' at in the establishment of the hospital is widely taken advantage of by the wives of working men, and as its fame and name* spread it will doubtless be resorted to by increasing numbers. It may bo noted' that a number of the patients who patronise the institution have been inmates on previous occasions. The following figures, showing tho number of births in the hospital in tne last 5i years, testify to the need of the hospital:—

Number of Births. 1905-6 (October to March) 69 1906-7 (to 31st March) 184 1907-8 (to 31st March) ... „ 201 1908-9 (to 31st March) ... ...' 204 1909-10 (to 31st March) 172

It is greatly to the credit of the hospital that only one maternal death has taken place; it occurred in December, 1907, from nephritis.