Hospital admissions reach record levels with 3 million more patients needing an overnight stay than a decade ago
People aged 65 to 69 who are being admitted to hospital in the greatest numbers
HOSPITAL admissions across the NHS in England rose to record levels last year.
Figures from NHS Digital show there were 16.2million admissions during 2015/16, up from 12.7million a decade ago.
People aged 65 to 69 accounted for 1.3 million admissions, the biggest number of a single age group, the data showed.
Overall, the average age of patients needing a hospital stay has been rising for several years.
From 2005/06 to 2015/16, admissions for patients aged 44 and under increased by less than 9 per cent. But among the over-45s, the increase was almost 44 per cent.
Over the same time period, the population has also grown, although at a much lower rate than hospital admissions.
Population has risen by 8 per cent compared to an almost 30 per cent growth in hospital admissions.
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Janet Morrison, chief executive of the older people's charity Independent Age, said: “These figures highlight the need for a greater emphasis in the coming years on preventing hospital admissions through better public health, GP access and community care.
“What we are now seeing is that it is people aged 65 to 69 who are being admitted to hospital in the greatest numbers.
“As this group ages, we need an approach to maintaining health that avoids where possible ever-increasing numbers of older people going into hospital.
“This means ensuring everyone has access to high-quality primary and community care that is sustainably funded.”