Doctor calls for wet house for alcoholics

A doctor wants a wet house set up after eight homeless men were responsible for 75 per cent of admissions for alcoholism at Wellington Hospital last year.

Emergency department doctor Paul Quigley told The Dominion Post the eight had made 127 appearances at the hospital over the last 12 months, one man being admitted to intensive care three times - a cost to the hospital of at least $15,000.

He said with no place to discharge patients, the hospital acted as a "revolving door" for homeless alcoholics.

"They are unlikely to be successful in treatment because they are living rough and unsupervised."

A wet house where some drinking was allowed would enable doctors to discharge patients with medication to treat ongoing conditions such as infections.

A spokesman for the Wellington City Council said $250,000 had been put aside for the future development of a wet house.

Dr Quigley told Radio New Zealand he also wanted to see ACC cut off payments to people who hurt themselves after drinking as their injuries took up hospital time and resources.

"We've seen time and time again that these are preventable things.

"It might need to be a sharp shock like that that makes people change their behaviour."

- NZPA