SOCIAL deprivation and long-term health conditions are triggering rises in the number of A&E visits, according to a report published today.  

Rates of accident and emergency attendance have more than tripled over the past 50 years, rising to 373 visits for every 1,000 people in 2015-16, the study by Queen Mary University of London found.

Attendance rates for the most deprived population group were 52 per cent higher than for the least deprived.