The Auditor-General has complained of poor control on food purchases and excessive provisions at the Gozo General Hospital.
In a report tabled in Parliament yesterday, the auditor noted that although the number of employees entitled to meals was reduced from 110 to 85, daily records showed that 90 workers enjoyed free meals on a daily basis. In just one day, the number of milk cartons supplied to the employees' dining room was 112.
An analysis of ricotta purchases showed that on average, only 40 per cent of the amount purchased was used by the hospital kitchen.
A further discrepancy was noted in the amount of fish delivered and the amount issued in meals.
The auditor said there was a lack of control in the procurement and distribution system with neither a computerised system nor any manual stock records to effectively manage the stocks.
No delivery notes were provided by the respective suppliers on certain purchased food provisions, particularly bread and fish.
An analysis of two records covering a sample three-month period revealed that the actual number of meals issued was consistently higher than the number of patients.
"This implied that excess provision was issued in respect of at least 2,954 overstated patients for full meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the three month period."
The auditor noted that the six menus at the hospital had been used for the past 35 years and were never reviewed. The menus gave no indication of the portion measures.
"Inconsistent and on occasions, also disproportionate quantities were distributed to various wards when compared to the population in each sector, resulting in consumption per patient (being) rather excessive and unrealistic," the auditor said.
The auditor also complained over the procurement of medical supplies.
He said that no stock records were kept for certain medical supplies. All quantities received were being forwarded to the medical staff upon delivery.
A requisition for defibrillating pads was drawn up by the technical expert who authorised the same request, having the local purchase order covering the purchase of these pads dated after the invoice.
Estimated cost shown on the requisition for the same pads was €116.47 while the actual cost paid was 493.52.
Management comments
In management comments, the auditor said the management had argued that around 60 per cent of the total ricotta procured was supplied to the kitchen while the remaining 40 per cent was delivered to the wards and distributed to patients for breakfast.
The auditor said this statement could not be verified since, though requested by NAO, no records confirming the distribution tot he wards were available.
Management also stated that the discrepancy between the fish supplied and that issued to the kitchen was to to the fact that in infrequent occasions, fish supplied had the head still attached and the supplier was therefore allowed to supply a larger quantity than that required.
"This argument cannot be accepted since evidence collected by NAO indicated plaice and tuna steaks," the auditor said.
The auditor said the management had still not addressed the issues of shortcoming sin the procurement of ricotta, discrepancies in the number of in-patients recorded, excessive provisions o the dining room, procurement of medical supplies, and employees' entitlement to meals.