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May 2014 - Public Consultation

According to research from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), there were, in 2013, 6,740 hospital admissions in England solely from dog ‘bites and strikes’. Children aged up to nine years old accounted for the highest number of admissions and the most common ailment was an injury to the wrist or hand.

Out of every 100,000 people who live in the most deprived areas of England there were twenty-four people admitted to hospital because of a dog attack. In the richest regions there were only eight admissions for every 100,000 people.

The highest rate of admissions for dog bites and strikes was noted in Merseyside, where a 23.6 people out of every 100,000 had to endure a hospital stay. Kent and Medway were at the other end of the spectrum with just 5.3 out of every 100,000 people being admitted to hospital.

Bites from other mammals such as horses, foxes and cats accounted for 2,970 hospital admissions – an increase of ten per cent compared to the previous twelve month period.

HSCIC chairman Kingsley Manning said:

“Today's report shows that hospital admissions for bites and strikes by dogs are three times as high in the most deprived areas of England as in the least deprived areas."

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