South West is deadliest region in England for fatal falls, warns RoSPA
Campaigners highlight rising accidental death rates in the latest review
New analysis from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has identified the South West as the deadliest region in England for fatal falls.
The findings are part of RoSPA's Annual Review of Accidents, showing that across the UK, accidental deaths increased by 8% in one year, reaching over 23,000 fatalities annually—exceeding the capacity of the O2 Arena.
According to RoSPA, residents of the South West face a heightened risk due to the region's older demographic, rural and coastal living conditions, and housing standards.
The review shows that falls have become the single largest cause of accidental death nationwide, with deaths from falls rising by 12% in a single year and by 34% over two years, now accounting for nearly half of all fatal accidents in the UK.
Hospital admissions due to accidents are similarly concerning, with 900,000 people admitted annually—a number equivalent to the entire population of Devon.
Accidental injuries result in severe impacts on individuals and communities, costing the NHS £6 billion in immediate treatment and accounting for a minimum of 5.2 million bed days. The UK economy also loses an additional £6 billion a year in output from lost working days.
RoSPA's Chief Executive Officer, Becky Hickman, emphasised the urgent need for prevention measures: “Accidents devastate lives in an instant. They are often sudden, violent, and shocking, leaving families and communities to cope with consequences that can last a lifetime.
"What makes this devastation even harder to bear is the knowledge that so many of these incidents are entirely preventable. Our Annual Review of Accidents shows we are still not doing enough to reduce avoidable harm, life-changing injuries and personal tragedies.
"People in Britain are at increasing and unacceptable risk of suffering a serious accident, and it is those who are already vulnerable—young children, the elderly, and people in deprived communities—who are in the greatest danger.”
Chris Boardman CBE, Olympic Gold Medal-winning cyclist, and Dr Sally-Anne Wilson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), also lent their support to RoSPA's calls for action.
Boardman said: “Serious injuries and deaths on our roads are often treated as an unfortunate but inevitable part of everyday life. They are not. In most cases, they are predictable and preventable…our streets must look and feel safe.
“Emergency Departments see first-hand the rising impact of accidental injuries, particularly among older people…The patients I worry about most are those who fall from standing height, often in their own homes, and arrive in the ED with serious injuries such as hip or rib fractures. Prevention must be a priority.”