HOSPITAL ALARM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19898, 28 March 1939, Page 5

HOSPITAL ALARM

FREE USE OF ALCOHOL BRANDY, STOUT AND ALE MONTH’S BOTTLE TALLY CHAIRMAN ASTONISHED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this, day. , Stating that from (February 1 to February 28 the totals of 300 oz. of brandy, 837 bottles of stout, 183 bottles of ale, 810 syphons of soda water, 566 bottles of 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 yesterday that there had been an alarming use of alcohol at the hospital. ■ “It has been worse than a brewery,” he added. Mr.. Moody said the matter came before him first from the head office staff, which had drawn up a comprehensive return of stimulants consumed at the hospital. The position shown was so alarm-ing--that-he would be failing. in his duty to,the public, said Mr. Moody, if he did hot attack- what he thought was an astonishing state of affairs. Periods Compared Compared with the same period in 1938, said Mr. Moody, the consumption of stimulants from February 1 to February 28 of this year had increased as follows: Brandy, 2610 z. to -300 OZ.; stout, 585 bottles to 837 bottles; ale, 165 bottles to 183 bottles; soda water, ' 758 syphons to 810 syphons; lemonade, 679 bottles down to 566 bottles; ginger ale, none to 81 bottles; whisky, none to 8oz.; champagne, none to one bottle. "In one month,” said Mr. Moody, “837 bottles of stout were consumed. Heaven knows what they do with it In the 1935-36 year altogether 4163 bottles of stout were consumed; in 1937-38 the figure was 7701. Ale in the same period went from 583 bottles to 1533. In 1931-32 ale and stout cost the board £25; in 1937-38 the cost was £337. Brandy went from £l7 to £79 and aerated waters from £159 to £175. The figures do not include the annexe. Restriction Re-established “I Had the matter investigated,” said Mr. Moody. “The medical superintendent, Dr. J. W. Craven, told me that some years ago instructions were given under the board that stimulants should not be given except under the signature of a member of the honorary staff. I had this system re-established 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 126 bottles and the consumption of ale from 56 bottles to 36 bottles. Brandy fell from 960 z. to 360 z. With any luck we will have some of these items almost disappearing. This abnormal waste must be stopped.”