A new study reveals a sharp rise in emergency hospital admissions across England, with hunger emerging as the fastest-growing cause. Between 2018 and 2024, hunger-related A&E cases increased by 218.5%, rising from 70 in 2018–19 to 230 in 2023–24. The analysis, conducted by The ID Band Company using NHS Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity data, points to worsening food poverty and escalating pressures on already stretched emergency departments.
The figures also show increases in other preventable and systemic medical issues. Environmental pollution-related conditions tripled, from 16 to 48 cases, marking a 190.8% rise. Surgical mishaps saw a rise from 1,418 to 4,094 emergency admissions, a 179.9% increase. NHS records previously indicated 237 million medication errors annually, resulting in £98 million in costs and an estimated 1,700 deaths according to a 2020 study published in The BMJ, raising concerns about safety across clinical procedures.
Adverse reactions to medical procedures showed the largest absolute growth, increasing from 40,881 cases in 2018–19 to 103,295 in 2023–24. Incidents involving medical devices also rose sharply. Physical medicine device failures increased by 142.4%, from 26 to 65 admissions. Cardiovascular device issues rose from 325 to 775, marking a 131.2% increase. Gastroenterology and urology device complications rose by 129.3%, from 323 to 764 cases.
Complications involving obstetric and gynaecological devices also increased, with admissions rising by 107.7%, from 196 to 420. Emergency visits due to vaccine reactions rose by 108.5%, from 2,060 to 4,430 cases. While these reactions represent serious cases, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency continues to stress that severe allergic responses remain uncommon.
Respiratory-related emergencies also increased by 84.9%, from 376 to 717 admissions. This correlates with warnings from the UK Health Security Agency, which has linked pollution exposure to a rise in both respiratory and cardiovascular incidents.
The Trussell Trust, a leading food poverty charity, reported a 94% increase in food bank usage between 2018 and 2024. This aligns with the NHS figures and reinforces the link between worsening living conditions and rising emergency care demand. “Experts warn this reflects increasing food insecurity”, the report states, underlining concerns that vulnerable populations are falling through the cracks.
Some causes of emergency admissions have declined during the same period. Pick-up truck collisions with railway vehicles dropped from 216 to zero. Assaults involving firearms decreased by 70.6%, from 56 to 17 cases. Heavy transport vehicle collisions fell from 53 to 24 cases, a 56.1% decrease. Swimming pool drownings dropped by 55.6%, from 59 to 27 cases. Accidental poisoning by organic solvents decreased from 449 to 218, and unspecified firearm discharges fell from 47 to 24.
Intentional self-harm cases, particularly involving narcotic poisoning, fell by nearly 49%, offering a rare indication of progress in mental health response and intervention. Still, the broader trend reveals growing pressure on emergency services driven by food poverty, pollution, medical errors, and equipment failures.
The data underscores a growing need for systemic responses, from tackling food insecurity to improving procedural safety within the NHS. With hunger now one of the fastest-growing reasons for A&E attendance, health inequality continues to widen and demands urgent policy attention.
