Print PageNational Poisons Information Centre
About us
The main function of the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) is to provide information to doctors and healthcare professionals to assist them in the management of acute poisoning. We also provide advice about accidental poisoning to members of the public. Poisons may include pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, household products, industrial chemicals and plants.
Our telephone information service is available to doctors and healthcare professionals 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Advice is also provided directly to members of the public between 8am and 10pm via a dedicated Public Poisons Information Line.
Our own Poisons Information Officers answer enquiries between 8am and 10pm, and night-time calls are automatically diverted to the UK National Poisons Information Service (at no extra cost to callers).
All calls are recorded and data stored electronically for clinical governance and training purposes.
Our second function is to collect and analyse epidemiological data on acute poisoning. We produce an annual report each year and can provide more detailed data to regulatory authorities on request.
The Centre is also the contracting body for TOXBASE, an on-line clinical toxicology database used by hospital emergency departments and intensive care units. We liaise with the database administrators to ensure that relevant Irish products are listed on TOXBASE.
The NPIC in Beaumont Hospital is the body responsible for receiving information relating to emergency health response under Article 45 of EU Regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures (CLP regulations). This information should include the chemical composition of mixtures placed on the market and classified as hazardous. The NPIC is also the competent authority to receive ingredient datasheets for detergent products, as stipulated in Annex VII C of the Detergent Regulation.
Manufacturers/suppliers wishing to include the telephone number of the Poisons Information Centre in section 1.4 of a SDS should contact us to ensure our requirements are met before printing the SDS.
Further information from the National Poisons Information Centre is available at https://poisons.ie
Manager: Patricia Casey
Contacts for Healthcare professionals - 01 8092566 or 01 8379964 (24 hours)
General Public poisons information line - 01 809 2166 (8am-10pm every day)
Email: npicdublin@beaumont.ie (Administrative queries only. We cannot give clinical advice by email.)