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In the St. Helens Hospitals, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, and lnvercargill, 1,129 cases were confined during the year; 1,123 children were born alive, and fortynine still-births. There were eighteen maternal deaths, and twenty-six deaths of infants. (This largely increased maternal death-rate was due to the influenza epidemic. Few mothers, who were confined while suffering from.influenza and nearly always with the complications of pneumonia, recovered.) There were also attended 521 outdoor cases. No deaths of mothers and infants. Seventy-six pupils were trained during the year, and seventy-three registered; thirty-one now in training. The plans are now being prepared for a new St. Helens Hospital in Christchurch. An additional piece of land was purchased, and the building is to be erected on the present site. The building will consist of new wards, labour-room, nursery, sitting-room for mothers, and all the usual adjuncts. The old outbuilding will then be used as a Nurses' Home and administrative block. The accommodation for the staff is now more comfortable, as they are housed in a cottage in the grounds, instead of a house some distance down the si reel. This St. Helens was fortunate in having no deaths from influenza. There were 219 admissions in the hospital and 181 outdoor cases; two deaths from nephritis and septicaemia, The St. Helens Hospital, Dunedin, is now to receive medical students into its labour ward. The earnest representations of the Dean of the Medical School and of the students as Io the impossibility of their obtaining the necessary experience in obstetric work at the Batchelor Hospital alone were carefully considered by the Department, and it was felt that, despite the great difficulty of maintaining a training-school for midwives as well as for medical students, an effort must be made to help the medical school to provide the requisite number of cases for each student. Owing, however, to the promise of the Right Hon. Mr. Seddon, when these hospitals were first established that the women for whom they were intended would not be attended by medical students, it has been arranged that the consent of the patient to a student attending her is obtained when making application for admission. The Department is reluctant to depart from the original intention of the State maternity hospitals, except in the case of Dunedin, on account of the presence of the Medical School there and the large increase of students, to go thus far at least towards meeting the needs of the school. There was one death from influenza and one from endocarditis. The accommodation for staff has been greatly improved by (he renting of an adjacent house. There were 121 admissions and sixty-one outdoor cases. The lnvercargill St. Helens has justified its establishment. The small number of beds is kept well filled, and the popularity of the institution is evidenced by patients returning the second time. Until the close of the war the Hospital was carried on under the sole superintendence of the Matron, who called in a doctor when abnormal cases required his attendance. Dr. McGibbon has now been appointed Medical Officer. There were three deaths from influenza. Of Wellington St. Helens there is nothing special to report. As at the other centres, the influenza epidemic increased the usual low maternal mortality, there having been three deaths from influenzal pneumonia as well as two from septicaemia. The numbers of admissions have kept up fairly well, but also owing to the effects of the epidemic, during which many women miscarried, they were lower than last year by twenty-three. The number of admissions was 321 and ninetyfour outdoor cases. Auckland St. Helens has had a very bus,)' year. The numbers of indoor patients have increased by nine. The Matron, Miss Broadley, after a very strenuous time was worn out and resigned her position. She was granted three months' leave on retirement, but after this holiday the Department was glad to receive her application to return to her position, Sister King managed well during the Matron's absence. It is hoped that now the war is over the long-contemplated new hospital wards may soon be built. There were 264 admissions and 183 outdoor cases. There were five maternal deaths; three from influenzal pneumonia. Gisborne St. Helens has had a quiet year. The fact of the Salvation Army Home taking married women with their children, and also the fact that patients engaging private doctors are now not admitted, bus decreased the number of cases. It does not now appear necessary to increase the accommodation, though the convenience of the place might be improved. Dr. Williams who was away on active service has now resumed his position of Medical Officer. There were no deaths from influenza,; one from cardiac embolism. Ninety-two cases were admitted. Hospitals under Hospital Boards, etc. Batchelor Maternity Hospital, Dunedin : For the year ending 31st March, 1919, the number of patients confined was 126. 112 children were born alive, fourteen still-births, and one maternal death. Six midwives were trained and registered during the year. McHardy Maternity Home, Napier : There were 141 confinements. 134 children were born alive (including one set of twins), eight still-births, and no maternal deaths. Four pupils were trained and registered. . . The Maternity Home, Blenheim : Eighty-two patients were confined. Eighty-four children were born alive, and three still-births. There were three deaths of infants, and no maternal deaths. No pupils were trained. The Essex Maternity Home, Christchurch : Twenty-one patients were confined. There were no maternal deaths, no deaths of infants, and no still-births. One pupil was trained and registered.