§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many reported cases of accidental poisoning of children there have been in each of the past 10 years.
§ Dr. OwenInformation is not available in the precise form requested. The number of children under 15 years of age admitted as in-patients to hospitals in England and Wales suffering from poisoning or suspected poisoning from all causes for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available is estimated to have been:
I regret that it is not possible to give separate figures for accidental and non-accidental cases.205W
Number of Patients Poisoning—All Causes 1963 11,000 1964 13,270 1965 15,550 1966 17,170 1967 20,610 1968 23,410 1969 28,530 1970 27,970 1971 29,280 1972 27,720
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the chief reported cause of accidental poisoning amongst children in the past year in the area of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.
§ Dr. OwenI regret the information is not available in the form requested. I understand however that the results of a limited survey in parts of Birmingham suggest that the incidence of poisoning in children is highest among those under five and that the most common cause is the taking of aspirin.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many reported cases of accidental poisoning have occurred in the past year amongst children in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area.
§ Dr. OwenThe estimated number in 1972 was 3,400. This relates to children under 15 admitted as in-patients, suffering from poisoning or suspected poisoning from all causes. An analysis of last year's records is not yet available.