Average length of stay in hospital in the UK 2010-2021

In the period from 2010 to 2021, the average length of hospital stay for acute care in the United Kingdom (UK) has not changed significantly. In 2010, the average length of stay in hospital was 6.1 days, by 2021 it was 6.9 days after remaining at six days in intervening years. 

High amount of admissions to hospital

There were almost 1.4 million admissions to hospital between January and March 2018 in England. This quarterly figure of admissions has remained fairly consistent since 2014. The busiest hospital trust in England by admissions in the year 2017/18 was the Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust with almost 305 thousand admissions.

Situation in Accident and Emergency

In the third quarter of 2017/18, A&E in England received over six million attendees. The number of attendances has been creeping upwards since 2012. 6.7 percent of people attending A&E in the last year were diagnosed with a dislocation, fracture, joint injury or amputation, followed by 6.2 percent with a respiratory condition.