The emergency department at Australia's Canberra Hospital locks up the coffee and tea supplies due to budget restrictions and suspected theft, according to an article on the Canberra Times website.
Coffee and tea have been provided to patients and family members for many years, with emergency department staff also granted access.
An email recently warned staff of changes. It said staff in other areas of the hospital were suspected of helping themselves to supplies reserved for patients and emergency department staff.
"There is a possibility that our supplies are being taken from other hospital departments and therefore, we are locking the supply cupboard so that we can monitor how much stock we as a department are using," the email said.
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