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Main Findings

There were 21,745 deaths due to injury in 2003, a 6% increase on 1996. The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the North West and East Midlands had significantly higher mortality rates, and London a significantly lower rate, compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, the West Midlands significantly increased and there was a significant reduction in the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and the South West region.

Unintentional injuries accounted for 14,212 deaths in 2003, an 8% increase on 1996. The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the North West, East Midlands, Wales and West Midlands had significantly higher rates compared to the England average. London’s rate was significantly lower than those of the other regions. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, the West Midlands significantly increased and there was a significant reduction in the Republic of Ireland, Wales and the South West region.

There were 3,903 unintentional deaths due to falls, a 44% increase on 1996. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland had significantly higher mortality rates compared to the other regions. The North West, West Midlands, North East and Wales also had significantly higher rates, and the East of England and South East had significantly lower rates, compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, England, the North West, the North East and the South East significantly increased, and there was a significant reduction in Northern Ireland. Scotland’s rate more than doubled in year 2000 suggesting a change in coding practice.

There were 3,653 deaths due to motor vehicle traffic accidents in 2003. Mortality rates were significantly higher in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, East Midlands, East of England and Scotland compared to the England average. London’s rate was significantly lower than those of the other regions. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, almost all regions observed a reduction, with significant reductions in the Republic of Ireland, Wales, England, the South West and the North East. Reliable monitoring of Scotland’s trend is only possible from 2000. Excluding Scotland, there was a reduction of 13% in the number of deaths since 1996.

Comparing the rate of deaths due to falls with that due to motor vehicle transport accidents in 2003, Scotland had a significantly higher rate due to falls. The reverse situation was observed in Northern Ireland, England and the regions of Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, East of England, South East and the South West. The two rates were similar in the other regions.

701 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle traffic accidents in 2003. The Republic of Ireland had a significantly higher mortality rate, and the South West region had a significantly lower rate, compared to the England average. There was a significant reduction in rate in most regions between 1996 and 2003. Excluding Scotland, the number of deaths shows a clear year on year decreasing trend, with an overall reduction of 40% since 1996.

There were 283 unintentional deaths due to drowning, a reduction of 16% on 1996. The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales had significantly higher mortality rates compared to the England average. The England count may be lower due to a higher proportion of deaths coded as ‘undetermined’ or suicide. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, the Republic of Ireland and Yorkshire and the Humber observed a significant reduction. However, tests of significance may not be robust given the small numbers involved.

There were 487 unintentional deaths due to fire/flame, a reduction of 22% on 1996. Scotland had a significantly higher mortality rate, and the East of England had a significantly lower rate, compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, the mortality rate decreased in most regions, with a significant reduction in the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, England and the East of England.

There were 1,036 unintentional deaths due to poisoning, a reduction of 19% on 1996. The North West and Wales had significantly higher mortality rates, and Scotland, the West Midlands and London had significantly lower rates, compared to the England average. Scotland’s rate was significantly lower than the other regions. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, the mortality rate decreased in most regions, with a significant reduction in the Republic of Ireland, England, the North West, London and the South West.

There were 2,002 intentional or undetermined deaths due to poisoning, a reduction of 24% on 1996. Scotland had a significantly higher rate than the other regions. Wales and the North West also had a significantly higher rate compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, there was a significant reduction in England and almost all the English regions.

There were at least 223 homicides, a reduction of 25% on 1996. There is likely to be an undercount in England and Wales due to the use of a temporary ‘undetermined’ code to register the underlying cause of death where legal proceedings have not yet been completed. Scotland had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to the other regions. Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Yorkshire and the Humber also had significantly higher rates compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, there was a significant reduction in England and the South East.

There were 4,668 deaths due to suicide, an increase of 1% on 1996. The Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales had significantly higher rates, and London a significantly lower rate, compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, there was a significant increase in Wales and a significant reduction in England. Different legal approaches and attitudes may affect the coding of deaths as suicide.

There were 2,583 deaths classified as undeterminedcause of death, an increase of 8% on 1996. London and the North West had significantly higher mortality rates, and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the South East had significantly lower rates, compared to the England average. Comparing 1996 and 2003 rates, there was a significant four-fold increase in the Republic of Ireland and a significant increase in the East Midlands. Different legal approaches and attitudes may affect the coding of deaths as undetermined. There is also likely to be an over-count in England and Wales due to the use of the temporary ‘undetermined’ code in the case of legal proceedings.

Some further comments on findings summarise possible artificial reasons for differences and also include reference to a paper from the Office for National Statistics which suggests widening the codes included in the ‘ICE’ categories used in this analysis to better capture the extent of homicides, poisonings and falls.