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Accident and Emergency Departments: Older People

Asked by Joe RobertsonConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 27 January 2025UIN 25532

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department and (b) NHS England collects data on A&E attendances of pensioners.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Information on the number of accident and emergency attendances and hospital admissions of pensioners is not available, although NHS England does publish information on accident and emergency attendances and admitted hospital attendances by age group. The following table shows the number of accident and emergency attendances in England for those aged 65 years old or over, in November and December 2024:

Month

Accident and emergency attendances

November 2024

365,265

December 2024

376,466

In addition, the following table shows the number of admitted hospital attendances in England for those aged 65 years old or over, in November and December 2024:

Month

Admitted hospital attendances

November 2024

160,630

December 2024

154,995

Source: data is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/

Notes:

  1. the data is provided as a percentage of total admissions and attendances, and therefore, the figures have been calculated from these percentages and rounded to the nearest whole number; and
  2. the data publication is released monthly, with December 2024 being the most recent publication, and therefore the figures for December are provisional and are subject to revisions.

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