Dog bite attacks highest in the North East

Published: 19/09/2013

Residents in the North East of England are the most at risk of being hospitalised after a dog bite, according to Primary Care Trust (PCT) data.

In a recent health report, every 21.6 hospital admissions per 100,000 in the North East were for patients with injuries sustained from a dog bite.

Yorkshire and Humber was the second most susceptible region with every 17.5 people per 100,000 admitted to hospital following a dog bite while admissions for these types of injuries were at their lowest on the South East Coast (5.1 per 100,000 people).

The report also revealed one in six hospital admissions for dog bites in England occurred in the North West with Liverpool and Manchester experiencing 123 and 82 cases respectively in the past year alone.

There has been much focus on dog bite injuries of late, following the tragic death of 14-year-old Jade Anderson who was mauled to death by four dogs at her friend’s house in March this year. As a result a 4500-signature petition was handed to the Prime Minister earlier this year, demanding action to prevent further attacks.

Luciana Berger is the MP for Liverpool Wavertree:

“These local figures are a stark sign that much more needs to be done to tackle the 210,000 dog attacks that happen across England every year.

“Too many families have lost loved ones to dog attacks and thousands of people are being hospitalised with long-term consequences. The government needs to act urgently.

“They should introduce measures that will prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place, such as Dog Control Notices with experts are calling for.

“It’s time the government stopped talking tough and took the proper action that is clearly needed.”

Content correct at time of publication

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