A&E units needed for alcohol abuse victims, says Labour

THE Labour Party has urged hospitals to consider introducing separate areas of accident and emergency units for patients suffering from alcohol abuse.

Dublin Central TD Joe Costello said this would help to protect vulnerable patients, in particular the elderly, from the growing number of intoxicated people seeking admission to A&E wards.

Mr Costello was speaking after a delegation led by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte and the party's health spokesperson Liz McManus visited Dublin's Mater Hospital yesterday. They met with patients and staff to assess the effect of recent government cutbacks.