A HOSPITAL social club which encourages drinking and smoking" is being scrapped. Bosses at Weston General Hospital have decided to get rid of the on-site social club, the last place on hospital grounds where smoking is allowed, on May 31. Minutes of the

A HOSPITAL social club which "encourages drinking and smoking" is being scrapped.Bosses at Weston General Hospital have decided to get rid of the on-site social club, the last place on hospital grounds where smoking is allowed, on May 31.Minutes of the Weston Area Health Trust board meeting said: "The board members expressed concern regarding the hospital subsidising the hospital social club, a facility that encouraged drinking and smoking."Mr Gritten (hospital chief executive Mark Gritten) advised that usage of the club was low with few current staff members using it and highlighted the potential to use the building to benefit the wider health community."A hospital spokesman said: "The space will be used for clinical purposes. This has yet to be finally agreed. However, there are several options for using the space, including a diabetic centre, podiatry services and consultant offices to free-up clinical space in the main building. The social club is not appealing."When the scrapping was first proposed, the social club committee warned bosses that staff morale could plummet as a result.Staff canteen discounts are also due to be docked as a money saving measure. Discounts will be reduced from 50 per cent to 20 per cent on hot meals, saving the hospital £30,000 per year. Bosses say many staff bring in packed lunches.