Data and Intelligence
Department of Health and Social Care's Fingertips tool provides data for areas such as Local Authorities, where the latest information can be viewed. The following information is a summary of key findings from this information when viewed in 2025.
Emergency hospital admissions: all causes for Hartlepool was in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities in England for 2016/17-20/21 and the worst in the region.
Emergency admissions within 30 days of discharge from hospital is lower in Hartlepool (14.1%) than the North East (15.3%) and England (14.8%). Hartlepool is within the lowest 4 local authorities within the region for this metric. The proportion fell from 16.0% in 2020/21 to 13.8% in 2022/23 (and since risen to 14.1%). The trend has fluctuated above and below the national average however has been below since 2021/22.
Hospital admissions for violence (inc. sexual violence) has experienced an overall decline in the last 10 years in Hartlepool. The rate has increased between 2020/21-22/23 to 2021/22-23/24 from 47.9 to 56.7 per 100,000. Higher than the region (59.7) and England (34.2).
Mental Health
Emergency hospital admissions for Intentional Self-Harm have declined over the last 10 years however are experiencing an increase in recent years to 233.9 per 100,000 in 2023/24 in Hartlepool. This is higher than the regional and national rate for that year, nationally the trend is declining. Hartlepool is in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities in this metric for 2023/24.
Conditions
Emergency hospital admissions for COPD (aged 35 and over) have been consistently higher than England for the last 10 years. Following a sharp decrease in 2020/21 this has increased again to 679 per 100,000 in 2023/24, higher than the North East (544) and England (357). Hartlepool is in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities for this metric.
Emergency hospital admissions for COPD between 2016/17-20/21 was 204.0 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 100.0 per 100,000. Hartlepool was in the lowest 25th percentile of local authorities. Hartlepool had the second highest rate in the region.
Hospital admissions for diabetes (under 19 years) have shown erratic trend pattern since 2013/14, unlike the consistent pattern of England. Following a sharp increase in 2021/22 this has since declined (69.6 per 100,000) but remains above the regional (60.1) and national average (49.8).
The rate of hospital admissions for epilepsy (under 19 years) was 92.8 per 100,000 in 2023/24 which was higher than both the regional (80.4) and national (79.3) average. Hartlepool had the 3rd highest rate in the region. The rate was below the national average however between 2022/23 and 2023/24 this increased from 47.1 per 100,000 to 92.8 per 100,000 which surpasses the national average.
Coronary heart disease: emergency hospital admissions between 2016/17-20/21 was higher than the national average and therefore Hartlepool was in the lowest 25th percentile of local authorities in England. Hartlepool had the highest rate of admissions for coronary heart disease in the region for this time period.
Stroke: emergency hospital admissions between 2016/17-20/21 was higher than the national average and therefore Hartlepool was in the lowest 25th percentile of local authorities in England. Hartlepool had the highest rate of admissions for stroke in the region for this time period.
Heart attack (myocardial infarction): emergency hospital admissions between 2016/17-20/21 was 174.2 per 100,000 and therefore Hartlepool was the worst local authority in the country for this metric for this time period.
Children and Young People
Hospital admissions of babies under 14 days have fluctuated above and below the national average for 10 years, with large increases in 2018/19 and 2019/20. In 2023/24 in Hartlepool the rate was 90.9 per 1,000 higher than both the region (79.2) and England (88.7). This is an increasing trend pattern.
Emergency admissions in children aged 0-4 years have been consistently higher in Hartlepool than the national average for 10 years and does not show a consistent trend pattern like that of England. Following a sharp decline in 2020/21 which may be due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the rate has increased to 235 per 1,000 in 2023/24. This is higher than the North East (194) and England (151).
Emergency admissions for gastroenteritis (0 to 4 years) was 129.9 per 100,000 in 2023/24 which was higher than both the regional (94.7) and national (67.6) average. Hartlepool was in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities for this metric and had the second highest rate in the region.
Emergency admissions for lower respiratory tract infections (0 to 4 years) was 289.8 per 100,000 in 2023/24 which was higher than both the regional (259.9) and national (207.7) average. Hartlepool was in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities and had the 4th highest rate in the region. The trend has followed a similar pattern to the national trend, however, has recently increased, widening the gap between the national average.
Emergency admissions (under 18 years) was 101.9 per 100,000 in 2023/24 which was higher than both the North East (88.5) and England (69.1), Hartlepool was in the worst 25th percentile of local authorities and had the 3rd highest rate in the region. The rate has been consistently higher than the national average.
Unintentional and deliberate injuries: emergency hospital admissions in children (aged under 5) between 2016/17-20/21 was 137.4 per 100,000, which was the lowest rate for North East local authorities.
Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in children (0 to 14 years) for 2016/17-20/21 was higher than the national average at 102.8 per 100,000, however, Hartlepool had the 2nd lowest rate in the North East.
Hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries in young people (15 to 24 years) was 140.6 per 100,000 between 2016/17-20/21 which was higher than the national average however minimally. Hartlepool had the 2nd lowest rate in the North East.
Aged 65 and over
Emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people aged 65 and over are declining in Hartlepool and have been consistently lower than the national average. In 2023/24 the rate was 1,565 per 100,000 lower than the region (2,122) and England (1,984).
Hip fractures in people aged 65 and over have experienced an overall decline since 2010/11 with occasional spikes in rate, the last in 2019/20 which could be related to COVID-19 pandemic isolation restrictions. In the last 5 years the rate has declined in Hartlepool to 574 per 100,000 in 2023/24, lower than the region (608) and higher than England (547).