Surgeon brands RDH emergency ward a 'war zone'

By Jano Gibson

Posted August 08, 2012

ABC NEWS

A surgeon at Royal Darwin Hospital says the emergency ward is like a "war zone" because of alcohol-related problems.

Phil Carson is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the hospital and says the Government's Banned Drinkers Register has done little to ease the workload for doctors or prevent alcohol-fuelled violence and injuries.

More than 2,500 people are banned from buying takeaway alcohol in the Territory.

But Professor Carson says the register does not focus on unsafe drinking practises amongst the majority of the population, and that continues to put a strain on the emergency department.

"It is like a war zone," he said.

"The beds are filled with people as a result of interpersonal violence, road accidents, and alcohol-related illness.

"It is a major part of our emergency workload in the Northern Territory."

Professor Carson says the Territory Government has done many things well in its campaign against problem drinkers. But he says alcohol-related issues remain.

"We think some of this Banned Drinkers Register is perhaps misdirected," he said.

"It is actually aiming at those few who are falling off at the end, who are very obviously public nuisance drunks.

"But it is actually not stopping the problem of unsafe drinking in a significant proportion of the population."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/royal-darwin-hospital-emergency-department-war-zone-alcohol/4185302?section=nt