Dog Bite Statistics UK: Hospital Admissions and Attacks (2026)
Online CPD Academy
https://onlinecpdacademy.co.uk/blog/dog-bite-statistics-uk

England recorded 10,796 hospital admission episodes for being bitten or struck by a dog in 2025/26. Separately, Royal Mail reported 2,019 attacks on its UK staff in 2025/26, an 8% fall from the previous year.

STATISTICS

Finished admission episodes coded bitten or struck by dog: 10,796
2025/26 | England NHS activity
External Causes table, W54; not unique people or bites alone.

Emergency finished admission episodes within that total: 8,613
2025/26 | England NHS activity
The remaining admission episodes include waiting-list, planned and other routes.

Reported dog attacks on Royal Mail staff: 2,019
2025/26 | UK
Employer reports; 8% below the previous reporting period.

Significant injuries in Royal Mail reports: 61
2025/26 | UK
Publisher’s injury category; not all hand injuries or amputations.

COVERAGE
Hospital data cover England in 2025/26 and count admission episodes, including dog strikes. Royal Mail figures cover its UK staff in 2025/26. Historical research is presented separately.

USING THESE STATISTICS
Please credit Online CPD Academy and link to https://onlinecpdacademy.co.uk/blog/dog-bite-statistics-uk when using these statistics. Retain each figure’s reporting period and coverage.

SOURCES
1. NHS England — Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025–26, External Causes (W54 row)
https://files.digital.nhs.uk/7C/C66AF4/hosp-epis-stat-admi-ext-cause-2025-26-tab.xlsx

2. Tulloch et al. — English hospital episode data analysis (1998–2018): rise in dog bite admissions driven by adult cases
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81527-7

3. Royal Mail — Dog Awareness report 2026
https://www.royalmail.com/personal/dog-awareness

4. ONS — Deaths involving being bitten or struck by a dog, occurring in England and Wales, 2019–2024
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/2585numberofdeathsinvolvingbeingbittenorstruckbyadogdeathsoccurringinenglandandwales2019to2024

5. NHS — Animal and human bites
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/animal-and-human-bites/

6. HSE — Manage the risks of working alone
https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/manage-the-risks-of-working-alone.htm

7. UK Government — Controlling your dog in public
https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

8. NHS England — Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025–26 publication and supporting information
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2025-26