A question mark was raised on Friday about "what's in and what's out" with Whanganui Hospital's policy on sugary drink.
The Community and Public Health committee discussed whether the hospital's drink options on campus were 70 per cent or 100 per cent healthier.
Committee member Judith MacDonald noticed an articlein the New Zealand Doctor comparing district health boards' policies on sugar-sweetened beverages. Boards that have cut out sugary drinks and limited some juices and milks to a smaller portion size receive a tick. Wanganui mistakenly received a cross, prompting Ms MacDonald to bring up the discussion as a late item in the meeting.
The article said Wanganui's sugary drinks are limited but not banned, and "at least 70 per cent of drinks for sale are healthier".
The Whanganui District Health Board voted last year to have sugar-sweetened beverages removed from cafeterias and vending machines on hospital grounds.
She said there was "still more work to do on food aspects around portion sizes" and said other health boards were talking about taking pies and pastries off the menu.
It was a question of "whether the board wanted to go to the next level", she said.
Committee chairwoman Kate Joblin said the health board had the same policy around sugary drinks as MidCentral, which received a tick in the article.
"There's a bit of a question mark about what's in and what's out," Ms Joblin said. She asked whether it was "time to review the policy".
