I love working with adolescents – every day is an adventure, and no two are alike. The challenges they bring equal the joys of watching our young people grow into adults full of promise and enthusiasm.

However, sometimes teenagers do some thoughtless things, and as a Registered Nurse with years of experience, I still need to call upon the advice of experts from time to time. One such reference source has been the Poison Centre. Don't ask me why you would drink correction fluid. And just how poisonous is the contents of a glo-stick? The Poison Centre can help with such a question immediately.

In cases of a child poisoning themselves, a caller needs immediate response from the hotline – and the difference between knowing whether to induce vomiting or alkalinising an acid in the stomach might be the difference between life and death or preventing life-changing internal damage. It was with dismay I heard the Government's plan to merge the Poisonline, Healthline, Quitline, public immunisation advice, a depression initiative, plus gambling, drug and alcohol support services into a one-stop national phone service.

It's not that I'm against making savings where there is merit in doing so, but I believe certain services are too important – and it is not best practice to have this service operated by generic 0800 operators.

WHO suggests 'An experienced poisons information officer can quickly identify anything unusual...or that a series of enquiries may signal a larger event”.

Our current Poisonline has been operating successfully for 50 years, has a world-class database that is constantly updated and is partly funded by Otago University.

We cannot put people's lives at risk when seconds might be crucial. Labour has launched a petition to save our Hotline, go to:
http://action.labour.org.nz/savethepoisonshelpline and sign up.

Follow Clare on the campaign trail – and stay in touch at her website www.clarewilson.co.nz