Western Australian Poisons Information Centre (WAPIC)

Services We Offer

Our centre provides telephone consultation to medical professionals and the general public in cases of acute and chronic poisonings. The centre serves more than half the geographic area of Australia including Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory.

We provide toxicological advice on the management of exposures to prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, household and industrial chemicals, plants, animal envenomations, pesticides and other agricultural products.

The WAPIC has a close working relationship with SCGH’s Emergency Department and its Clinical Toxicology services.

Department Contact Details

Emergency calls – National access - 13 11 26

24 Hours/Day - Seven Days/Week

E-mail: poisonscentre@health.wa.gov.au - Email address not to be used in cases of acute poisoning, for general enquiries only.

Physical Location

G,Block, Ground floor

Staff

Medical Director

Dr Jason Armstrong

Medical Consultants

Dr Lindsay Murray
Dr Frank Daly
Dr David McCoubrie
DR Ovidu Pascu

Head of Department

Dr Anne-Maree Lynch

Poison Information Specialists

Mrs Dale Beecham
Mrs Shirley Murphy
Mr Klaus Auert
Mr Tony Coltrona
Mr Don Hulme
Ms Yumi Tan

Education and Research Activities

Formal training in Poisons Information, Clinical Toxicology and Toxinology is provided for all new staff members. In addition, staff from the WAPIC attend weekly toxicology case conferences conducted by Drs Lindsay Murray, Jason Armstrong, Frank Daly, David McCoubrie and Ovidu Pascu.
Current research activities include outcome assessments of exposures to specific pharmaceuticals and household chemicals as well as ongoing, collaborate research with the World Health Organisation examining the use of chemical exposure data for regulatory toxicology use, and reporting formats used internationally by other Poison Information Centres.

Employment

People with Tertiary qualifications in Pharmacy or Biomedical Science with strong backgrounds in Pharmacology, are encouraged to apply for training as Specialists in Poison Information.

Useful Links

Annual Report (PDF)