ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL NEEDS TO CLOSE THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPARTMENT AND FOCUS MORE ON ELERDY PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH GENUINE DISABILITIES WHO GENIUNELY NEED ASSISTANCE

I FEEL THAT THE EXISTING ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPARTMENT AT THE ROYAL DARWIN HOSPITAL COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCREASING RATE OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AMONG ABLE BODIED BLUDGERS IN THE TOP END

18 January 2011

I am responding to comments about the increasing antisocial behaviour on the Top End, and I have to say I am extremely concerned about what has been happening for sometime. i cannot comment on the nature of antisocial behaviour but I feel it warrants urgent action and sooner the better.

At the heart of the problem I strongly feel that the existing alcohol and drug division / department at the Royal Darwin Hospital could be contributing to the increasing rate of antisocial behaviour among able bodied bludgers in the Top End and I strongly urge it be closed at the hospital and relocated to a different place that is totally independent of the hospital right now.

The problem is the public hospital is too focused on alcohol and drug rehab and it is not the right place for it. Resources are being wasted on able bodied bludgers who are not trying to help themselves when they are able to do so, and I have heard of reports that people with geniune cases who need assistance at the hospital are missing out on assistance when they should be getting it.

I call on the NT government to shift the alcohol and drug department from the hospital to a different location and that department be totally independent of Royal Darwin Hospital. Otherwise they cannot expect the antisocial behaviour problem to be solved anytime soon.

The reality is if the able bodied people who aren't born with a disability cannot and won't try to help themselves, tbey cannot expect other people to help them and that is a real fact of life.

That is why I strongly feel that having the alcohol and drug department based at the Royal Darwin Hospital could be largely responsible and a big contributer to the increasing antisocial behaviour among able bodied bludgers and I feel if it was relocated to a different place that is independent of the hospital it could go a long way to reducing the antisocial behaviour in Darwin and top end.

I don't expect others to agree but I feel sure that the alcohol and drug department should not be located at Royal Darwin Hospital.

William Walker