Managing poisoned patients

The UK National Poisons Information Service provides advice on the management of poisoning via its internet clinical toxicology database TOXBASE® and 24-hour telephone helpline.

Now, a new e-learning resource called TOXlearning has been introduced to help not only the ambulance service, but doctors, nurses and pharmacists in hospitals and general practice, as well as NHS 111 and other medical professionals to all improve their knowledge of the clinical management of poisoned patients.

The TOXlearning resource contains information on how to get started and how best to use the site. Users can work through courses at their own pace, save their work, obtain their scores and print off their results for continuing professional development files.

Module 1 – using TOXBASE

Designed to assist new and existing TOXBASE® users to use the database more effectively.

Module 2 – clinical management of the poisoned patient

• general aspects of poisoning
• problematic poisons
• common poisons
• drugs of misuse

Module 3 – management of patients involved in chemical incidents

• decontamination and incident management
• factory and motor vehicle accidents
• leaks and contamination
• riots and potential deliberate release

The TOXlearning resource is available independently of TOXBASE®, and access is free at www.toxlearning.co.uk. This service has been commissioned by Public Health England; for more information please email mail@toxbase.org or call 0131 242 1383.

Remember, the TOXBASE helpline for poison enquiries is available 24/7 on 0844 892 0111

Published 5th May, 2014