asked the Minister for Health the number of children under five years (a) killed, and (b) admitted to hospital in 1973-74 as a result of taking medicines excessively
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Deaths.
21.
In the year ended 31st December, 1973, one child under five years of age died as a result of an overdose of medicines. Exact figures are not available of the number admitted to hospital but it is estimated that the figure is of the order of 700. About half of these were admitted having taken medicines from the aspirin-analgesic group and, on average, were discharged after two days in hospital.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that while those figures are lower than the figures for the UK, they justify a greater curtailment of the availability and sale of aspirins and such medicines?
I agree entirely. Every effort is being made by the National Drugs Advisory Board to ensure that those drugs and medicines are kept out of the reach of children.