USE OF ALCOHOL IN HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 13

USE OF ALCOHOL IN HOSPITAL

Alarming Position Revealed

STATEMENT BY AUCKLAND BOARD CHAIRMAN By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND. March Stating that from February 1 to February 28 totals of 300 oz. of brandy, 837 bottles of stout, 183 bottles of ale, 810 syphous of soda waler, 56G bottles ol lemonade, 81 bottles of ginger ale. Boz. of whisky and one bottle of champagne had been consumed, the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, said at a meeting of the board tonight Hint there had been an alarming use of alcohol lit the hospital. “II Ims been worse than a brewery,” he added. Mr. Moody said the matter came before him first from the head oilice stall, which had drawn up a comprehensive 'return of stimulants consumed at the hospital. The position shown was so alarming that lie would be failing in bis duty to the public if he did not attack what lie thought was an astonishing state of affairs.

Compared with the same period in 1!>38, said Mr. Moody, the consumption of stimulants from February I to I'ebrttary 28 this year had increased as follows: — Brandy. 2Gloz. to 30l)oz.: stout. 585 bottles to 837 bottles: ale 165 bottles to 183 bottles: soda water, 75S syphons to 810 syphons: lemonade. 67!) bottles down to SGG bottles: ginger ale, none to SI bottles; whisky, none to 8oz.; champagne, none to one bottle. “In one mouth.” said Mr. Moody. "837 bottles of stout were consumed. Heaven knows what they do with it. In 1(135-30 altogether -11(13 bottles of stout were consumed and in 1937-38 the figure was 7701. Ale in the same period went from 553 bottles to L 133. In 1931-32 ale and stout cost the board £25: ill 1937-38 rhe Cost was £337. Brandy went from .17 to £79 and aerated waters from £159 to £175. The figures do not include the annexe. "1 had the matter investigated," Mr. Moody added. "The medical superintendent, Dr. J. IV. Craven, told me that sonie years ago instructions were given under a previous board that stimulants should not be given except under the signature of a member of the honorary staff. I had this system reestablished last week. “To show what has happened compared with the week ended March 19, the consumption of stout dropped in one week from 230 bottles to 128 and ale from 56 bottles to 36 bottles. Brandy fell from 9Goz. to 360 z. With any luck we will have some of those items almost disappearing. This abnormal waste must be stopped.”