The Wellington Free Ambulance is putting paramedics on foot patrol as a trial for the Rugby World Cup.
Chief executive Alan O'Beirne says it will station an ambulance and four paramedics on Courtenay Place in the central city to deal with alcohol related injuries and emergencies on Friday and Saturday nights.
Mr O'Beirne says the idea is to treat patients on the street to stop them clogging up Wellington Hospital's emergency rooms.
If the trial is successful, he says it will be boosted to deal with crowds expected to flood the capital during the tournament, beginning on 9 September.
