Overview: Veterinary Poisons Information Service
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Overview
Veterinary Poisons Information Service
The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) is a UK-based 24-hour telephone emergency service for veterinary professionals and those working for animal welfare organisations. It provides information on the diagnosis and management of actual and suspected acute poisoning in animals.
Advice for every consultation is tailored to the specific case in question and can include a risk assessment, information on anticipated clinical effects, suggestions for laboratory or other diagnostic confirmation for the suspected intoxication, appropriate treatment protocols and prognostic advice, thereby ensuring that the animal receives appropriate and optimum treatment.
Since it officially started in 1992 over 120,000 telephone enquiries have been taken; the VPIS now appears to be the information source of first resort for many UK veterinarians confronted with poisoning cases.
The telephone service is delivered by 15 Specialists in Poisons Information, all of whom are life science graduates and many of whom have additional post-graduate qualifications. Many have worked for the VPIS since it started. The highly experienced staff has access to a variety of information resources, which are regularly updated and allow the responses to each enquiry to be current and comprehensive. These include:
•"In-house" monographs for over 400 poisonous agents, summarizing detailed species - and occasionally breed-specific research on toxicity, treatment doses, clinical effects and appropriate management advice
•The VPIS past case database, which holds detailed information for over 120,000 cases of poisoning in animals
•Textbooks and handbooks from our extensive toxicology library
•Thousands of manufacturers' product data sheets listing compositions, packaging details, physico-chemical characteristics and sometimes toxicological characteristics of many commercially available products
•Literature case reports
•Veterinary and toxicology journals
•Various electronic toxicology databases
•Veterinary and human formularies and pharmacopoeias
•Conference proceedings and abstracts
•The VPIS Library of past press reports and articles
In addition VPIS undertakes research by following up many fo the cases referred to it and collecting and collating these and other published data to constantly refine and improve its recommendations and advice. Many of the data collected are published in articles and reports submitted to and presented at national and international conferences and in the veterinary literature.
In addition the VPIS has input to the undergraduate courses of many of the UK veterinary colleges and also provides some CPD training for veterinarians and veterinary nurses already in practice. It collaborates with many other veterinary regulatory bodies, veterinary associations and animal welfare groups producing leaflets and other publications on poisoning themes.
Since 1992 the VPIS has been a subscription based service, and the annual charge has included unlimited access to the service on quotation of a membership number. From 2010 additional alternative subscription options will be introduced so that costs for a subscribing practice will reflect service usage more closely.
For further information please contact
VPIS
Medical Toxicology Information Services
Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Mary Sheridan House
Guy's Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
Tel: (emergency enquiries) 020 7188 0200
Tel: (manager/admin) 020 7188 0600
Fax: 020 7188 0700
email: vpis@gstt.nhs.uk
website: www.vpisuk.co.uk
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