Woohoo! Toxicology!

9 August, 2010
By Raphael Fraser

I’ve been to a meeting this morning with the newly-appointed toxicology consultant at our hospital. He’s setting up what will be only the third toxicology service in the State. Our area is a pretty good place for one, seeing as apparently we make more calls to the national poisons information centre than anywhere else on the Eastern seaboard of Australia. So, yeah, we kinda need a toxicology service.

Basically the impact for us in psychiatry will be around all the people we see who have poisoned themeselves (taken overdoses, generally). Currently when they need medical admission they go somewhat haphazardly under neurology or cardiology or gastro … or pretty much whoever can be sweet-talked or coerced into taking them. ;) Now they’ll be admitted under toxicology. Then with consultations as needed from drug and alcohol services, and from psychiatry, the person will be managed safely and comprehensively while in hospital.

It’s potentially excellent. Its main impact on my team (working in ED but not the main hospital) is likely to be a reduction in the number of people staying in ED for hours and days after taking overdoses. For those we can discharge and manage at home, or those who need (and are fit for) psychiatric admission, nothing is likely to change, but those who can’t go home or to the psychiatric ward are likely to get much better care, as they’ll neither be sitting for ages in ED, nor admitted under the wrong specialty – which apparently is currently doubling their length of stay compared to places with toxicology services.

Good start to a week 8)

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One Response to Woohoo! Toxicology!

  1. Mater on 10 August, 2010 at 1:37 am

    That sounds surprisingly (even scarily) rational/sensible for a health service

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