- Accidental deaths in the UK rose by 8 per cent to over 23,000 in 2023, with hospital admissions increasing by 3 per cent to nearly 900,000 in 2023/24, according to a report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
- Falls remained the leading cause, accounting for 48 per cent of deaths and 59 per cent of hospital admissions, while poisoning caused 27 per cent of deaths but only 3 per cent of admissions, indicating its high lethality.
- Deaths from dog bites increased significantly from six in 2022 to 20 in 2023, though they represent a small fraction of overall accidental deaths.
- The report highlighted that men, older people, and individuals in more deprived areas face disproportionately higher rates of accidental injury and death, with Scotland having the highest death rate among UK countries.
- RoSPA urged the government to implement a National Accident Prevention Strategy, improve data monitoring, and target high-risk groups to alleviate the £6 billion annual cost to the NHS and reduce preventable harm.
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