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A dedicated district poisons treatment unit: response to the College guidance on the management of deliberate self-harm

Cardiff Community Healthcare, Cardiff;

P. Beck, Consultant Physician, S. White, Nurse Manager and P. A. Routledge, Honorary Consultant Physician^*

Cardiff Poisons Treatment Unit, Llandough Hospital and NHS Trust, Cardiff CF64 4XX

^* Correspondence

Aims and method An examination of the activities of a district-wide dedicated admission unit for poisoned patients in Cardiff, Wales, between 1987 and 1997. Number of admission episodes, gender, drugs taken, intent, psychiatric diagnosis and disposal were recorded.

Results Although the number of admission episodes almost doubled over the 10-year period, the median length of stay fell by almost half.

Clinical implications The results suggest that a dedicated unit is a cost-effective model for the management of poisoned patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Griffin and J. I. Bisson Introducing a nurse-led deliberate self-harm assessment service Psychiatr. Bull., June 1, 2001; 25(6): 212 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]