Dog bite figures puzzle

Mar 3 2008

HOSPITAL bosses have reacted with surprise to claims there has been a huge rise in the number of youngsters needing treatment for dog bites.

According to NHS statistics, acquired by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb, the number of under-18s who required hospital care after dog attacks in the West Midlands has soared by 80 per cent over the past four years - with 146 youngsters needing treatment in 2006-2007, compared to just 81 in 2002-03.

But A&E departments across Coventry and Warwickshire say they must be unique in the region as the statistics in no way reflect their experience.

A spokesman for George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton said: "Although we don't have access to detailed statistics, we can say anecdotally that, if anything, the number of people needing treatment for dog bites is falling.

"We're a bit bemused by these figures, to be honest. We don't get anywhere near as many as we used to."

The same sentiment was also expressed by spokesmen for the University Hospital, Coventry, Warwick Hospital, and the Hospital of St Cross, in Rugby.

Despite big regional variations Mr Lamb called for more to be done to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership.