London, UK – The widespread adoption of cashless payments may have had an unexpected health benefit, according to British surgeons—fewer young children requiring medical procedures to remove swallowed coins.
An analysis of hospital records in England since the early 2000s revealed a notable decline in cases where children needed operations or interventions to extract coins and other foreign objects from their throats, airways, or noses. Researchers suggest the shift away from physical cash, which accelerated in the past decade, could be a contributing factor.
According to the study, published in The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, procedures to remove foreign objects from young children saw a “significant decline,” with nearly 700 fewer cases recorded by 2022. Historically, coins accounted for more than 75% of objects swallowed by children under the age of six.
The Link Between Cashless Payments and Fewer Incidents
The UK Payments Markets Survey indicates that card payments began surpassing cash transactions in 2012. The study’s researchers observed that around the same time, hospital admissions for swallowed coins and other objects began to drop steadily.
Between 2012 and 2022, the data shows:
A 29% drop in foreign-body removal procedures, from 2,405 to 1,716 cases.
195 fewer procedures to remove swallowed objects, declining from 708 to 513.
484 fewer cases of objects lodged in the nose, from 1,565 to 1,081.
10 fewer respiratory tract procedures, decreasing from 132 to 122.
While the researchers acknowledge that reduced access to physical coins may have played a role, they emphasize that other factors—including child-proof packaging, parental awareness, and safety campaigns—likely contributed to the decline.
A New Concern: Batteries and Magnets
Despite the encouraging trend, doctors warn that other small objects remain a serious risk. Button batteries and high-powered magnets, increasingly found in toys and household items, can pose life-threatening dangers if swallowed.
“These items can cause deadly complications within hours and require urgent medical attention,” said Akash Jangan, one of the researchers behind the study. “While it is positive that fewer children are swallowing coins, we must remain vigilant about other hazards.”
ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) surgeon Ram Moorthy, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England who was not involved in the study, echoed this concern.
“This study shows how new technology can make children safer in ways we didn’t anticipate,” he said.
“However, as doctors, we are still deeply worried about other dangerous objects, such as button batteries and magnets, which can cause serious harm. Parents and caregivers must continue ensuring small, hazardous items are out of children’s reach.”
Cost of Foreign Object Removal to the NHS
Between 2010 and 2016, removing foreign objects from ears and noses cost NHS hospitals in England approximately £3 million per year. Young children were responsible for most cases, accounting for 95% of nasal object removals and 85% of ear-related extractions.
While the decline in coin-swallowing incidents is an encouraging trend, experts stress that other household dangers remain. As digital payments become even more dominant, the unintended benefits for child safety may continue—but ongoing vigilance is needed to address new risks.
