Poisoning
Establish the exposure, assess the patient and use current poisons advice with a clinician.
Clinical learning outcomes: Awaiting named clinical review.
What you should learn
- Recognise toxicity and present a clear exposure history.
- Find appropriate poisons guidance and explain the plan for observation and reassessment.
Recognise and explain
- A toxidrome can guide reasoning, but mixed or uncertain exposures are common.
On your placement
Agree the activity and supervision with the clinical team. For patient-facing learning, seek permission and respect the patient’s comfort and care needs.
- Clarify substance, amount, timing and other exposures.
- Review observations, glucose, ECG or blood results as appropriate.
- Use authorised TOXBASE access with your supervisor and discuss when NPIS advice is needed.
Observe and understand
- Observe specialist advice about antidotes or enhanced elimination.
Observation does not establish competence to perform these activities.
Choose the uncertain-ingestion or carbon-monoxide case to match the exposure you want to discuss.
Start here
MLA: assess, act and reassess
Prioritise physiological assessment and supportive care while seeking specific poisons advice.
Current guidance
National Poisons Information Service
Ask your supervisor to show you authorised TOXBASE access and when to seek specialist poisons advice for an exposure.
NICE: poisoning when self-harm is involved
If self-harm is involved, read the recommendations on physical care, psychosocial assessment and safe follow-up.
Discuss
Initial assessment of suspected poisoning
Approach an uncertain ingestion with supportive care, targeted information and physical and psychosocial safety in parallel.
Recognising carbon monoxide poisoning
Recognise a shared exposure, interpret a delayed COHb result and plan treatment and a safe destination.
On your next shift
Explain which detail of the exposure changed the monitoring or treatment plan.
How this relates to GMC graduate outcomes and the MLA
These are St Emlyn’s learning connections, not a claim that this page covers every national requirement.
Presentations and conditions: Poisoning.
Clinical and professional capabilities: Assessment and clinical reasoning; Recognising limits and seeking help.
St Emlyn’s interpretation of relevant GMC graduate outcomes and MLA themes; these are summary labels, not official topic codes or a complete curriculum.
Explore the student placement programme
Student practice and graduate expectations
About this resource and its review
A St Emlyn’s guide to learning Emergency Medicine during undergraduate placements. It is not an official medical-school or GMC curriculum. Your medical school’s curriculum and assessment requirements take precedence.
National foundations: GMC Outcomes for Graduates, the practical-skills supplement and the MLA content map applying from September 2026.
Framework checked: 8 October 2026. This is a source check, not clinical sign-off.
Clinical learning outcomes: awaiting named clinical review.
The four learning routes are St Emlyn’s groupings. The six interconnected MLA domains remain part of the official content map.