Board gets into print to answer allegations

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 39

Board gets into print to answer allegations

PA Wellington The Wellington Hospital Board has published a special supplement to provide hospital staff with “facts” about the stocking of one of its warehouses, as a result of allegations in “Truth” newspaper of wastage.

The eight-page "Health Link” supplement had a billboard-style cover saying “Central store Petone, the truth.” The chairman of the board. (Dr M. Nicholson) said the supplement had been produced so that every fact could be brought to the notice of the staff.

“It may be expensive, but it is part of staff public relations. Many of the staff had encountered innuendos or questions regarding the store,” he said.

About 6000 people worked at Wellington Hospital, and any allegations affected them as well as the board. He had questioned the cost of printing the supplement, but had been told that it was very reasonable under the board’s contract printing arrangements. Commenting on the

newspaper’s allegations, he said: ‘lf there was funny business we are not in a position to do anything about it because nothing has come' up in concrete terms. But we are in a position to make improvements.” The board’s independent investigation had shown the need for stocks to be marked with the purchase date and for notification of any items made redundant.

In the supplement, the board’s chief executive (Mr J. Rennie) said two areas of stock giving concern were dried apricots and peaches and a large holding of winceyette. “Attempts are now under way to dispose of excess stocks of dried fruit by tender.” The fruit was fit for human consumption, but may have a limited shelf life. There would be a loss on the dried fruit (almost seven tonnes) but the figure would have to be considered in relation to the annual food .cost of $2.2 million.

It would be a year before new stock levels had been corrected, the supplement said.

The supplement also denied allegations made by “Truth” that it kept secret a 20-bed abortion and gynaecological ward in the new Wellington Women’s Hospital. It was the board’s policy to set up a separate abortion clinic.

The 20-bed ward mentioned by the newspaper did not meet the criteria for a separate abortion clinic and could not be used for the purpose.