'Alcotest Units' help hospital staff test drunk patients

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Two new 'Alcotest Units' will enable quick testing of intoxicated patients at Wellington Hospital .

These 'Alcotest Units' would enable quick, safe and repeatable testing of intoxicated patients and were believed to be a first for a New Zealand hospital.

Yesterday the two units were presented to Wellington Hospital's emergency department by the Wellington Hospital's foundation.

Emergency department director Dr Andre Cromhout said the emergency department carried out hundreds of blood alcohol tests on intoxicated patients every year.

Previously it would take up to an hour for staff to receive test results, he said.

The new units would allow test results to be obtained instantly, with all data collected and stored electronically, and then sent to a mobile printer if need be, he said.

This would save costs, unnecessary discomfort for patients and time, which was previously spent taking care of intoxicated patients, Dr Cromhout said.

"We are extremely grateful to the foundation for their ongoing support. The donation of these two 'Alcotest' breath analysers will be of huge benefit to the emergency department.

"They will result in quicker assessment of an intoxicated person who arrives in ED, decreasing patient risk and enabling more appropriate discharge planning of the patient dependent on their levels of intoxication."

The cost of the two units was $7000.