Media playback is unsupported on your device
18 December 2014 Last updated at 17:58 GMT
The National Poisons Information Service in Newcastle is one of four units around the UK and says poisoning is a "major public health issue".
Staff at the centre treat patients who have arrived at A&E and also advise health professionals how to treat and manage cases.
The Newcastle unit took 17,000 calls in 2103, with 28% of those involving children under the age of four.
From drugs overdoses to toddlers who have swallowed e-cigarette refills, a Freedom of Information request has found 12,000 people are admitted to hospital in the North East and Cumbria every year suffering from poisoning.