Details of admissions to a dedicated district poisons treatment unit in South Glamorgan were analysed to assess changes in self-poisoning patterns between 1987-1988 and 1992-1993. Self-poisoning rates increased in both men and women, with male rates showing a relatively larger increase, resulting in a fall in female to male ratio for person-based rates from 1.33:1 to 1.13:1. The highest age-specific rates in both period were found in 15-19-year-old females. Paracetamol was the most commonly ingested poison in 1992-1993, with 43.4% of episodes involving its use, compared with 31.3% of episodes in 1987-88. Antidepressant involvement in self-poisoning also increased from 11.3% of episodes in 1987-1988 to 17.6% of episodes in 1992-1993. Repetition of self-poisoning was relatively common, with 18% of admissions per year in 1992-1993 representing repeats. Although hospital admission increased in this health district over the study periods, this was not reflected in an increase in in-patient all-cause mortality, which was only 0.5% in 1987-1988 and 0.1% in 1992-1993.

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Aims and methodAn 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.ResultsAlthough the number of admission episodes almost doubled over the 10–year period, the median length of stay fell by almost half.Clinical implicationsThe results suggest that a dedicated unit is a cost-effective model for the management of poisoned patients.