More than a dozen patients were diagnosed with measles after visiting accident and emergency services at Oxford University Hospitals Trust last year, new figures suggest.

Experts blame poverty and falling vaccination rates for a surge in diseases such as measles, whooping cough and scabies across England.

NHS figures suggest around 15 patients were given a primary or secondary diagnosis of measles after visiting A&E services at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in the year to March.

Meanwhile, there were no hospitalisations for the condition recorded a year earlier.

READ MORE: Emergency services close road as 'blowing smoke' seen at incident

The condition usually starts with cold-like symptoms and develops into a rash. It can cause serious complications if it spreads to the lungs or brain.

This data comes from clinical diagnoses made in A&E, with the true figures varying slightly after patients' samples have been tested.

The figures are rounded to the nearest five, and are not available for when there are seven hospitalisations or fewer.

Across England, attendances ultimately resulting in a measles diagnosis rose five-fold to 2,305 visits last year.

Among ailments with at least 1,000 hospitalisations, this was the largest increase of any condition across England.

Last year also saw the number of whooping cough diagnoses in A&E triple, with 1,696 for the year. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection, characterised by a persistent cough.

Meanwhile, scabies cases – a rash caused by mites on the skin – rose by 66 per cent, with 5,661 primary and secondary diagnoses.

The figures suggest Oxford University Hospitals Trust did not diagnose anyone with these conditions after a visit to A&E last year.

Gwen Nightingale, assistant director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation, said poverty may impact the spread of these diseases.

"Not having enough income to sustain a basic standard of living can have a negative impact on health, through factors like cold, damp homes or an inability to access healthy foods.

"The stress of living on a low income can also negatively impact health," she added.

READ MORE: 18-year-old convicted of GBH after stabbing in park

The UK Health Service Authority said the rise in measles hospitalisations could be a "canary in the coalmine" for falling vaccination rates.

A spokesperson added: "In addition to measles, many children are also missing out on protection against other serious diseases, including whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria and polio. It is especially tragic to see kids suffer when these diseases are so easily preventable."

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: "Vaccines are parents’ best defence against these illnesses – that’s why the NHS offers them free, saving thousands of lives and preventing tens of thousands of hospital admissions every year."

Mr Russell urged parents to check their child's vaccination records, and to get in touch with their GP to book one if needed.