The Toxicology Training Centre has opened at United Christian Hospital, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, providing clinical toxicology training to healthcare professionals.

In collaboration with local medical institutions, the College of Emergency Medicine and universities, the centre will enhance the quality of clinical toxicology training in Hong Kong.

There were more than 4,300 reported poisonings last year, up 7% on 2008, resulting in 33 deaths. The coroner reported more than 400 poison-related fatalities in 2007.

Centre Director Dr Lau Fei-lung said the increasing trend of poisonings shows the necessity for developing and enhancing clinical toxicology training in Hong Kong, adding the centre will help improve the quality of poisoning treatment.

The centre, together with the Poison Information Centre, will provide comprehensive poison consultation, treatment and clinical toxicology training services for healthcare professionals and the public.

More than 1,000 healthcare professionals have received clinical toxicology training in the past five years and 100 doctors have been awarded a clinical toxicology certificate or diploma.