TOXBASE and NPIS telephone support service
Not surprisingly in an increasingly online world, the last decade has seen a marked swing away from obtaining information on poisonings from the NPIS national telephone support service and towards its internet service, TOXBASE by professional staff.
Back in 2000, the total number of TOXBASE sessions was 100,000, compared with 250,000 telephone enquiries. Since then, the trend has reversed, with the number of online sessions increasing some five-fold (to nearly 510,000 in 2010/11), while telephone enquiries have fallen over time by more than three-quarters (to just under 55,000).
There has been no decrease in enquirer satisfaction with either the telephone helpline or TOXBASE and the telephone line is available for more complex enquiries. Telephone enquiries come from hospital, primary care and NHS Direct/NHS 24 users. Over a quarter (28.8%) involve children under the age of five. This reflects the frequency of accidental poisonings among young children.
Information from the NPIS Annual Report 2010/11
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