Drinks in hospital

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 20

Drinks in hospital

Sir,—As a hospital patient in wartime and on many occasions since, I have found that the addition of a glass of wine or ale to the

daily fare has demonstrably assisted my mental attitude and physical well-being in hospitals. The prescribing by many oldertime physicians of stout and tonic wine was legend in my younger days, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to recall anything untoward happening in the hospital or the home environment in those days. Advocacy is in no way advanced for bar facilities in every ward, but the moderate use of alcohol in the treatment of many patients would see them more quickly on the road to full recovery than by the use of many of the modern drugs which plague our society. — Yours, etc., L. J. APPLETON. March 5, 1984.

Sir,—lt is presumptuous for E. Gale (March 5) to advocate what amounts to interference in a doctor’s treatment of his or her patient. If a doctor decides that an alcoholic drink or two will not be detrimental to the patient’s health, whether in or out of hospital, surely that is a matter between them alone, and of no concern to any other person, however well-meaning—Yours, etc., MRS J. M. ARCHIE. March 5, 1984.