R H K Thanacoody1, J Jay, J Sherval. 1. Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. ruben.thanacoody@luht.scot.nhs.uk
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Reducing drug related deaths has been identified as a health priority by the Scottish Executive. AIMS: This study investigates the association between drug related deaths in the Lothian region and prior contact with hospital-based services in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. DESIGN/ SETTING: Retrospective analysis of 90 drug related deaths in Lothian from 2003-2005. Hospital episodes within five years of death were identified by searching the electronic patient record system within the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. FINDINGS: Seventy-five of the 90 drug related deaths occurred in the hospital catchment area. Forty five of these 75 deaths (60%) occurred in patients who had used hospital-based services in the previous five years. The median time from hospital contact to deaths was five months and median number of hospital attendances/admissions was three (range 1 - 26). CONCLUSION: Liaison between emergency departments, clinical toxicology services and community based drug addiction services is important to identify drug misusers at high risk. A hospital-based specialist nurse-led liaison service may be able to fulfil this role.
UNLABELLED: Reducing drug related deaths has been identified as a health priority by the Scottish Executive. AIMS: This study investigates the association between drug related deaths in the Lothian region and prior contact with hospital-based services in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. DESIGN/ SETTING: Retrospective analysis of 90 drug related deaths in Lothian from 2003-2005. Hospital episodes within five years of death were identified by searching the electronic patient record system within the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. FINDINGS: Seventy-five of the 90 drug related deaths occurred in the hospital catchment area. Forty five of these 75 deaths (60%) occurred in patients who had used hospital-based services in the previous five years. The median time from hospital contact to deaths was five months and median number of hospital attendances/admissions was three (range 1 - 26). CONCLUSION: Liaison between emergency departments, clinical toxicology services and community based drug addiction services is important to identify drug misusers at high risk. A hospital-based specialist nurse-led liaison service may be able to fulfil this role.
Authors: Gordon Ward Fuller; Matthew Jones; Ceri Anne Bradshaw; Jenna Jones; Ann John; Helen Snooks; Alan Watkins Journal: Eur Addict Res Date: 2022-02-16 Impact factor: 4.000