People have such short memories...
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2021 5:28 amPublished on 30th November 2018:
"Winter deaths hit highest level in more than 40 years with 50,100 across England and Wales"
Last winter was the worst for excess deaths in England and Wales for more than four decades, figures show.
There were an estimated 50,100 in the winter months of 2017/18 according to the Office for National Statistics, the highest figure since 1975/76.
The numbers show that during the most recent period, between last December and March, the number of daily deaths exceeded the five-year daily average for all dates except March 25.
Plummeting temperatures, such as those brought by the catastrophic 'Beast from the East', and a prevalent strain of flu have been attributed as likely causes for the increased statistic.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the Office of National Statistics, said: "The number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017-2018 was the highest recorded since the winter of 1975-1976.
"However, peaks like these are not unusual - we have seen more than eight peaks during the last 40 years.
"It is likely that last winter's increase was due to the predominant strain of flu, the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and below-average winter temperatures."
At the time, excess strains on A&E departments and a waiting times crisis were blamed in part on the freeze.
NHS chiefs described this alongside flu and norovirus prevalence as a "perfect storm" of problems.
