Fall in hospital admissions for gunshot injuries and assault by sharp objects, but rise in admissions for drug poisoning

Hospital admissions caused by gunshot injuries and assault by sharp objects fell in England in 2007-08, figures from The NHS Information Centre show today.

But admissions for poisoning by drugs increased over the same period, according to the publication; Hospital Episode Statistics; England; Admitted Patient Care 2007-08.

Gunshot wounds resulted in 1,181 admissions in 2007-08, a 10.2 per cent drop from 2006-07 (1,315), and a 13.8 per cent drop compared to four years ago (1,370 in 2003-04).

Assault by sharp objects (including knives) resulted in 5,239 admissions in 2007-08, an 8.4 per cent drop from 2006-07 (5,720), but a 9.7 per cent increase compared to four years ago (4,774 in 2003-04).

However poisoning by drugs (including but not exclusively illegal drugs) resulted in 11,416 admissions in 2007-08. This is a 10.7 per cent increase from 2006-7 (10,312) and a 42.2 per cent increase compared to four years ago (8,028 in 2003-04). Other findings from the report show:

  • Deliberate injuries (including self-inflicted injuries and assault) on people aged under 18 resulted in 19,669 admissions in 2007-08, a 0.9 per cent rise from 2006-07 (19,488) and a 16.2 per cent rise compared to four years ago (16,932 in 2003-04).
  • Land transport accidents resulted in 60,700 admissions in 2007-08, a 0.4 per cent drop from 2006-07 (60,969) but a 7.4 per cent rise compared to four years ago (56,508 in 2003-04).
  • Obesity resulted in more than 5,000 admissions in 2007-08, a 30.4 per cent rise from 2006-7 (3,876) and nearly treble the figure from four years ago (1,746 in 2003-04)4.

In 2007-08 there were more than 13 million hospital admissions for the first time since records began, reaching nearly 13,480,000 in 2007-08 – 3.9 per cent (504,000) more than in 2006-07 (12,976,000). More than 4,753,000 of these were emergency admissions, 1.1 percent (53,000) more than in 2006-07 (4,700,000).

Length of stay figures for 2007-08 show that, for the first time, more than 50 per cent of patients stayed one day or less in hospital. The average (median) time waited - from the decision to admit to admission - was 42 days in 2007-08, compared to 49 days in 2006-7.

In 2007-08 there were:

  • Nearly 492,000 admissions for operations on the upper digestive tract, which includes operations on the stomach, oesophagus, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
  • More than 325,000 admissions for cataract operations.
  • Nearly 92,000 admissions for hip replacements.
  • More than 68,000 admissions for coronary artery operations5.

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: “Our figures show continuing increase in admissions to NHS hospitals in England, with admissions topping 13 million for the first time and nearing 13.5 million.

“The figures include a wide range of topics which can cast light on society and the pressures on the NHS, including a decrease in admissions for gun shot injuries and assault by sharp objects, and an increase in admissions for drug poisoning. This provides important evidence for policy makers and the public.”

A full version of the report can be viewed at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hes0708.

The report provides links to the HES data tables, which will begin to be uploaded at 09:30am on 25 February

The NHS Information Centre also publishes today Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, February 2009. The accompanying press release can be viewed at www.ic.nhs.uk/pressoffice

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. The NHS Information Centre is England's authoritative, independent source of health and social care information. It works with more than 300 health and social care providers nationwide to provide the facts and figures that help the NHS and social services run effectively. Its role is to collect data, analyse it and convert it into useful information which helps providers improve their services and supports academics, researchers, regulators and policymakers in their work. The NHS Information Centre also produces a wide range of statistical publications each year across a number of areas including: primary care, health and lifestyles, screening, hospital care, population and geography, social care and workforce and pay statistics.
  2. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.
  3. Admissions do not represent the number of people, as one person may be admitted more than once during the year.
  4. HES figures for obesity admissions include people living outside England but who were treated in the English NHS. In another NHS IC publication ‘Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, February 2009', figures for obesity admissions do not include people living outside England who were treated in the English NHS.
  5. Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period and calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, HES time waited is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. The published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list
  6. Coronary artery operations refer to the following: Coronary artery bypass graft – includes replacement of coronary artery, connection of thoracic artery to coronary artery and other methods of bypass (K40 – K46) and Percutaneous transluminal operations on coronary artery (OPCS 4.2 codes: K49, K50.1, K50.8 in conjunction with L71.8; OPCS 4.3 codes: K49, K50.1, K75, plus for 2006/07 only K50.8 in conjunction with L71.8).
  7. Admission for assault by sharp object refers to the following HES code: X99; Assault by Sharp Object.
  8. Admission for gunshot wounds refer to the following HES codes: W33.- Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge; W34.- Discharge from other and unspecified firearms; X72.- Intentional self-harm by handgun discharge; X73.- Intentional self-harm by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge; X74.- Intentional self-harm by other and unspecified firearm discharge; X93.- Assault by handgun discharge; X94.- Assault by rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge; X95.- Assault by other and unspecified firearm discharge; Y22.- Handgun discharge, undetermined intent; Y23.- Rifle, shotgun and larger firearm discharge, undetermined intent; Y24.- Other and unspecified firearm discharge, undetermined intent; Y35.0 Legal intervention involving firearm discharge; Y36.4 War operations involving firearm discharge and other forms of conventional warfare.
  9. Admission for poisoning by drug refers to the following HES codes: T40.0 Poisoning by Opium; T40.1 Poisoning by Heroin; T40.2 Poisoning by other opioids; T40.3 Poisoning by Methadone; T40.4 Poisoning by other synthetic narcotics; T40.5 Poisoning by Cocaine; T40.6 Poisoning by other and unspecified narcotics; T40.7 Poisoning by Cannabis (derivatives); T40.8 Poisoning by Lysergide [LSD]; T40.9 Poisoning by other & unspec psychodysleptics [hallucinogens]; T43.6 Poisoning by psychostimulants with abuse potential.
  10. Admission for obesity refers to the HES code E66; Obesity.
  11. Admission for deliberate injury refers to the following HES codes: deliberate (intentional self-harm): X60-X84 (intentional self-harm), Y87.0 (sequelae of intentional self-harm) X85-Y09 (assault), Y87.1 (sequelae of assault)
  12. For media enquiries please call 0845 257 6990 or contact: