Drug user's 'bloody disgusting' shelter near hospital sparks debate
A man has hit out at “junkies” for not cleaning up after themselves at a park outside a hospital.
The man shared photos of a needle, a bloody cloth, rubbish and an erect tent, which were reportedly taken at Park Central in Campbelltown, in southwest Sydney.
“Another beautiful day in Park Central,” the man wrote sarcastically on Facebook.
“Junkies leaving their s*** out for people to hurt themselves, why can’t Campbelltown Hospital p*** off the free needle disposal machines, this might help stop the amount of needles in the park as it’s only across the road.”
The man said in a comment this was a regular occurrence.
In other comments, many people expressed concern for people getting injured, especially children and branded the situation as “bloody disgusting”.
“Council regularly conducts clean-ups of public parks, which includes litter and sharps removal and an inspection and general tidy of facilities provided within the area,” a Campbelltown City Council spokesperson said in a statement to Yahoo News Australia.
And more suggested the hospital was part of the problem for supplying needles.
“I can understand how unsafe leaving dirty, used needles like this is around however the hospital supplies free needles so that these people aren’t reusing the same needle over & over again, leading to terrible infection etc,” one person said in the comments.
“Rehabilitation for these people should be easier accessible/cheaper, as well as our mental health system supplying more than 10 free sessions per year.
“Along with that of course, comes with the Government helping out our understaffed & over stressed hospitals so that they have enough beds for patients & such. Addiction is a tough battle to fight.”
The man who posted the photos said he spoke to a woman who hands out the needles.
“When speaking to her she seemed so bored of me and what I had to say she did not care, that was the biggest shock I got out of it,” he said.
“P**s the free needles off, have a shoot up room, such a better option.”
On the Campbelltown City Council’s website, a needle clean-up hotline is listed, as well as all the places within the community where sharps can be disposed of, it is not advised members of the public attempt to remove thee syringes themselves.
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