The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has published its latest Annual Review of Accidents, revealing stark inequalities in accidental death rates across the UK and warning that preventable injuries continue to place increasing pressure on public services.
Accidental deaths continue to rise
According to the report, around 23,000 people now die each year because of accidents, while approximately 900,000 people require NHS treatment for accident related harm annually.
RoSPA said this is equivalent to the population of Devon passing through the healthcare system every year because of preventable injuries.
The research also found that the rate of accidental deaths increased by 8% in a single year, driven largely by falls and accidental poisonings.
Deprivation linked to higher risks
RoSPA’s analysis highlighted a strong link between deprivation and accidental death rates. In England, people living in the most deprived areas faced fatal accident rates 87% higher than those living in the least deprived communities.
Scotland and Wales recorded significantly higher accidental death rates than England, while within England, the North East and North West reported the highest rates.
London consistently recorded the lowest levels. RoSPA said people living in parts of the North East, Wales or Scotland were more than twice as likely to die in an accident as those living in London.
Housing and inequality factors identified
The report linked increased risks to poor housing conditions, unsafe environments, reduced access to preventative measures and wider health inequalities.
Falls, identified as the leading cause of accidental death, were strongly connected to housing quality, age and health conditions.
Call for national prevention strategy
RoSPA renewed calls for a National Accident Prevention Strategy focused on high risk groups, improved data collection and embedding safety into housing, products and public spaces.
The organisation said reducing accidental harm requires tackling the inequalities that continue to shape risk across society.
