Childhood injuries (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Level of need

Nationally there has been a small, but significant, decline in the rate of admissions since 2013 / 14.
The current national rate is 104.2 per 10,000 children.

While there was an increase in admissions during 2013 / 14, and hospital analysis of the period confirms that South Tyneside has an above England average rate of hospital admission due to injuries in 0 - 14 year olds, indications are that a double counting of admissions has incorrectly led to a rate that is far higher than other local authorities in the North East.
Where the rate of injuries in 0 - 14 year olds for 13 / 14 is currently 214.1 admissions / 10,000 children, the adjusted rate is more like 194 admissions / 10,000. This adjustment would make South Tyneside the second highest in the country for admissions.
The adjustment also brings South Tyneside back in line with its average performance since 2010 / 11, dampening the increase observed between 2012 / 13 and 2013 / 14.

See Fig 2 Appendix

For every 100 children in South Tyneside, each year:
- 3 boys aged 0 - 4,
- 2 girls aged 0 - 4,
- 2 boys aged 5 - 14 and
- 1 girl aged 5 - 14 are admitted to hospital for an injury.
The profile of injuries in South Tyneside is largely consistent with detailed analysis of childhood injuries at a national level. Most injuries occur at home for 0 - 4 year olds and either at home or at school for 5 - 14 year olds.

The analysis shows that "deliberate" injuries do not play a significant role in the "unintentional and deliberate injuries in 0 - 14 year olds" cohort. There is, however, a indication that in the older age range, self-harm that becomes the most dominant form of injury in 15 - 24 year olds.
The majority of admissions are due to head injuries, followed by fractures of the arm and leg.

There is a large amount of variation across geographies in South Tyneside. Boldon Colliery has the most injuries on average while Harton has the fewest as a proportion of their child population sizes.
The number of injuries in Harton is still higher than the English average.
There is no noticeable trend related to deprivation in terms of rate, though the majority of the borough is within the most deprived 30% of the country. Fifteen of the boroughs wards are within the most deprived 30% of the country, three wards, Cleadon and East Boldon, Westoe, and Whitburn and Marsden are not.
86% South Tyneside's 0 - 19 year olds live within the most deprived 30% of the country.

See Fig 2 & 3 Appendix