Security staff have seen people swiping bottles of hand sanitiser from Southern District Health Board facilities.
It comes amid growing fears over Covid-19, although the number of confirmed cases in New Zealand remained low yesterday.
Board acting operations general manager Jenny Hanson said security staff had captured surveillance footage showing members of the public taking ‘‘bottles of hand sanitiser throughout our facilities’’.
She said although the board tried to ‘‘protect and secure’’ supplies of hand sanitiser, it also had to ensure best access for staff, patients and visiting members of the public who needed it.
Orderlies have reported a need to replenish hand sanitisers in hospitals more frequently, partly due to greater public awareness of the need to wash hands.
‘‘However, we expect that some of this increased demand will also be due to theft because of the shortage of hand sanitiser available for sale in shops,’’ Ms Hanson said.
Ms Hanson said washing hands with soap and water was just as effective as sanitiser.
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Maybe public health could arrange a distribution via coupon obtained via GP clinic or registered local address or similar that allows a bottle or two household to be obtained? Just an idea and May promote less risk for all. Hand washing is ideal if you are near running water and soap. Supermarket visits, school and work is where of course people want sanitiser on hand. Where is it if not in the supermarket to purchase?
And the panicking-sheep show continues....
Oh for flips sake. People drive me mad. Soap and water does far more than a cheesy bottle of hand sanitizer. In fact hand sanitizer should be banned for the gimmick in a plastic bottle it actually is. What a waste of money.
Anyway, it's theft, so the security guards should be dealing with it with police.