A mammoth waitlist is blocking patients struggling with substance abuse from accessing a bed at Auckland metro's main public inpatient detox unit.
Instead, those who fall ill waiting for a bed at Pt Chevalier's Pitman House are advised to go to already-overloaded emergency departments.
Meanwhile, Checkpoint has learned some staff are concerned about the medical detox unit's move into Auckland Central.
Nick Truebridge has the story.
A waitlist of nearly two months is blocking patients struggling with substance abuse from getting a bed at Auckland metro's main public inpatient detox unit.