§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual number of deaths from (a) self-poisoning, (b) by self-inflicted gunshot and (c) other forms of suicide.
§ Mr. MoyleThe numbers of deaths in England and Wales attributed to (i) 755W suicide and (ii) injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely
1974 1975 1976 Cause (ICD category) (i) (ii) (i) (ii) (i) (ii) Total (E950–9, E980–9) 3,899 1,173 3,693 1,377 3,816 1,508 (a) Self-poisoning 2,228 585 1,977 657 1,959 728 by: solid or liquid substances (E950. E980) 1,877 554 1,678 628 1,600 701 domestic gases (E951, E981) 50 4 23 7 14 3 other gases (E952, E982) 301 27 276 22 345 24 (b) By firearms and explosives* (E955, E985) 162 9 160 18 177 15 (c) Other forms 1,509 579 1,556 702 1,680 765 * Suicide by explosives is rare.
§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of medical admissions to National Health Service hospitals self-poisonings and other forms of suicide and attempted suicide comprise;
(2) if he will estimate how many attempted suicides and other forms of self-poisoning were handled by hospitals in the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available and for corresponding periods five, 10 and 20 years ago; and what proportions were male and female, and aged over and under 20 years or
All deaths attributed to suicide including self-poisoning Deaths attributed to self-poisoning Year Male Female Total Male Female Total 1975 … … 2,184 1,509 3,693 977 1,000 1,977 1970 … … 2,271 1,669 3,940 1,206 1,266 2,472 1965 … … 2,942 2,219 5,161 1,923 1,851 3,774 1955 … … 3,060 1,940 5,000 1,633 1,471 3,104 A breakdown by age cannot be carried out without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what procedures are normally adopted by hospitals in handling cases of self-poisoning.
§ Mr. MoyleAccident and emergency departments and medical departments provide treatment in all cases of poisoning. Authorities are advised to ensure that after physical treatment all cases of attempted suicide receive psychiatric investigation before discharge.
§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the average cost to the National Health Service of handling a case of self-poisoning.
§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the
756Winflicted during recent years have been as follows:
some other nearby age if more convenient.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that in 1973, the latest year for which figures are available, 92,970 patients were admitted to hospital suffering from "adverse effects of medicinal agents" and 14,200 patients from "toxic effects of chiefly non-medicinal substances"; this compares with about 5 million total admissions. The number of deaths in England and Wales attributed to suicide in the years shown were as follows:
total annual cost to the National Health Service of handling self-poisonings and other suicides and attempted suicides.