HES on... Food poisoning

Food poisoning affects up to 5.5 million people in the UK every year. This article gives an overview of the condition and highlights related* Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data for 2009-10.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is a common illness that usually lasts from 1 to 3 days. Typical symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

A person can get food poisoning by eating food or drink that's contaminated with micro-organisms, such as E.Coli or Salmonella.

Who does it affect?

According to the Food Standards Agency, up to 5.5 million people in the UK are affected by food poisoning each year.

HES data for 2009-10 shows that, in England, people of all ages are treated for food poisoning (see graph below).

During 2009-10, the most emergency admissions took place in September.

HES facts and figures

HES data for food poisoning (diagnosis codes A02, A05, T61, T62 in ICD-10^*) show that:

• 1,237 (93.6%) hospital admissions are emergencies rather than from waiting lists
• it was responsible for 1,751 treatments within a hospital setting, accounting for 6,396 FCE bed days.

Out of 1,751 finished consultant episodes (FCEs), 1,498 (85.6%) did not undergo any procedures or interventions. 253 (14.5%) FCEs with a procedure did take place, the most common procedures and interventions were:

• diagnostic imaging of central nervous system (U05 in OPCS 4.5), accounted for 30 (1.7%) of main procedures based on FCEs
• diagnostic imaging procedures (U21 in OPCS 4.5) accounted for 33 (1.9%) of main procedures based on FCEs
• continuous Infusion of therapeutic substance (X29 in OPCS 4.5) accounted for 28 (1.6%) of main procedures based on FCEs.

More information on this topic is available from NHS Choices here.