Cost savings through community access to the NSW Poisons Information Centre

In addition to handling urgent emergency calls for advice about major poisonings, the NSW Poisons Information Centre handles calls from the general community about poisonings of a much more minor nature. Although these poisonings may be perceived by the callers to be significant, the only action required is either reassurance that there is, in fact, no problem or simple treatment that does not require further intervention. The study demonstrates that callers in this category would have sought professional advice elsewhere had the Centre not existed and the subsequent cost effectiveness of the Centre's role in taking these calls.