London: Patients being "failed" by the Health Service are checking themselves into accident and emergency units more than 100 times a year, according to shocking new figures.

Research into so-called "super-users" of the NHS — people with chronic conditions who keep readmitting themselves to hospital — has uncovered the full scale of the problem. Over the past year, 909,904 people were admitted to A&E (Accident and Emergency) more than once.

But 40,299 patients were admitted at least five times, and 34 people had to attend more than 50 times. An unfortunate five patients went to A&E more than 100 times.

Chris Skidmore, the Tory MP who uncovered the research, said the figures showed the NHS was failing to tackle problems such as obesity, diabetes, substance abuse and alcoholism.

He said: "These figures demonstrate clearly the scale to which NHS care is being dominated by super-users, usually those with long-term chronic conditions and those involved with substance misuse. We must begin to look closer at who exactly is using the NHS rather than allowing its revolving door to continue turning."

Skidmore, a member of the Commons Health Select Committee, added: "Many people who end up at A&E shouldn't be there in the first place. We need to find out exactly who these people are and focus on preventing their conditions." Recently, Prime Minister David Cameron has said he does not care about "taking a hit" on the government's radical shake-up of the NHS in England, vowing there was no going back on the reforms.

Addressing the Conservative spring forum, the prime minister said the controversial overhaul was "unavoidable and urgent".

But he sought to reassure party activists over the crucial doorstep election issue, claiming the NHS was "in the party's DNA and that's not going to change".

Cameron's comments come as the chorus of opposition to the coalition's NHS reforms grew louder this week, with the Royal College of Radiologists joining a growing list of medical bodies denouncing the health and social care bill.

On Friday, the college called on ministers to withdraw their plans for a radical shake-up of the NHS in England after a survey of its members.

With additional inputs from the Guardian News & Media Ltd