51% Increase In Deliberate Self Poisoning Admissions To Bournemouth Hospital
The major hospital has seen a rise across both intentional and unintentional poisoning admissions.
Admissions to the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital (RBCH) from deliberate overdoses by illegal drugs has risen by 51% over the past 5 years, with opioids responsible for 85% of total admissions.
In 2014, there were 43 admissions due to deliberate self-poisoning, with ‘other opioids’ the drug responsible in 34 cases. However, by 2019 this figure had risen to 65 admissions, with all but three admissions due to ‘other opioids’, a category that includes heroin.
Accidental admissions also rise
Over the same time span, intentional self-poisoning using cocaine dropped from 9 to 2 instances. Over five years, and a total of 268 admissions, opioids were to blame in 85% of cases.
Accidental self-poisoning via drugs also increased over the five year period. In 2013, 13 admissions were made under this category, rising to 17 admissions by 2018. Opioids were once again the most commonly responsible, accounting for 66 of 86 total admissions during the five year period.
Bournemouth Borough Council declined to comment on these findings.
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Harvey, 15, from Bournemouth, said, “This is an important issue in our area. It affects the city I live in and the future of it.”