On the Agenda - Obesity hospital admissions rise

by Gemma O'Reilly, PR Week UK 04-Nov-09

In a nutshell Hospital admissions for obesity in England have risen by 60 per cent in the past year, according to new figures released by The NHS Information Centre. The rise is a 360 per cent increase compared with five years ago.

Details please

The results, published in the report Hospital Episodes Statistics Admitted Patient Care, England 2008/09, showed there were 8,085 admissions for obesity in 2008-09, a 60 per cent rise on 2007-08 and a 360 per cent rise since 2003-04. NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: 'The large increase in admissions for obesity reflects the growing impact obesity has on the health of our nation. It also reflects the fact that overweight people are resorting to treatments such as bariatric surgery.'

Any other findings?

The results also found that there were 4,914 admissions for assaults by a sharp object, a six per cent decrease from 2007-08. There has also been a five per cent decrease in admissions for injuries from a firearm.

PR strategy

The in-house team at The NHS Information Centre handled the PR for the story. A press release was sent out and the team took more than 40 calls on the first day.

Media coverage

The BBC ran a prominent story on its website, while national and regional press also covered the story. The Daily Mail ran with the headline: 'Obesity patients soar 60 per cent in a year.' - 8,085 people admitted to hospital for obesity in 2008-09

- 6% decrease in admissions for assaults by a sharp object