Everyday accidents have increased A&E visits by 3.8 per cent and hospital admissions by 7 per cent last year, according to MetLife UK
According to the Everyday Risk Report, falls, trips and bumps remain the leading external cause of hospital admissions, with 13,934 more cases recorded, an increase of 3.08 per cent. Meanwhile, admissions triggered by allergies, bites and stings saw the fastest growth of 20.03 per cent.
The report also found that 42 per cent of adults have spent at least 24 hours in hospital due to an accident or illness. Broken bones were the most common injury, affecting 45 per cent of respondents, followed by muscle or ligament tears at 20 per cent, concussion at 16 per cent and joint damage at 8 per cent.
Tripping or falling over accounted for more than a third of incidents, at 36 per cent, with sports injuries making up 23 per cent and stair falls 17 per cent. Adults admitted after an accident spent an average of four days in hospital, with almost one in five staying longer.
MetLife warned these incidents often bring financial strain as people take time off work and contribute to out-of-pocket costs. Meanwhile, it says that just one in ten adults has accident and sickness cover in place.
MetLife UK head of individual protection Phil Jeynes says: “Just a year on from our first Everyday Risk Report, we’ve seen the number of injuries and hospital admissions increase as a result of everyday accidents. Even falls or trips, the most common every day cause behind hospital admissions, are overlooked as a major risk in people’s lives.
“What is striking is how many people are still not appropriately protected against these risks. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, a story of uncertainty, and it presents a clear need for individuals to have the right type of protection in place to safeguard them. That’s why we strive to offer simple protection products that are an everyday essential. Providing a reliable financial safety-net that can support them and their loved ones when life takes an unexpected turn, helps ease the financial strain and lets people recover and deal with the things that matter most.”
