Warning to old folk as winter begins to bite

HEALTH ALERT AS FIGURES SHOW EXCESS DEATHS ARE SOARING

EXCESS winter deaths are soaring across Greater Manchester.

Health officials are urging elderly people and those with health problems to take extra care in the coming days, with icy winds and heavy snow expected in some areas within a fortnight.

The warning comes as new figures have revealed that excess winter deaths – usually associated with cold weather and cases of the flu – are on the rise.

The latest data available from the Office for National Statistics has shown that there were an estimated 1,330 excess winter deaths in Greater Manchester in 2016-17. That’s up from 980 such deaths the year before.

In particular, Bury North saw the number of excess winter deaths increase from just 20 in 2015-16 to 100 in 2016-17. It means deaths in winter in the constituency were 41 per cent higher that winter than during the rest of the year – a discrepancy nearly twice as high as the national average.

Across England and Wales, an estimated 34,530 extra people died over the winter of 2016-17, with death rates 21pc higher than at other times of the year.

The constituencies of Bolton South East, Bolton West, Wythenshawe and Sale East, Denton and Reddish, Wigan, Leigh, Altrincham and Sale West, Manchester Withington and Manchester Gorton, also saw the number of excess winter deaths at least double.

While local figures are only available up to 2016-17, national figures have also been released for the period between December 2017 and March 2018.

Across England and Wales, there were more than 50,000 excess winter deaths during that time, up from closer to 34,500 deaths in 2016/17 – the highest recorded since the winter of 1975 to 1976.

It suggests that the number of excess winter deaths seen in Greater Manchester is likely to have risen even higher last year.

Colder than average temperatures may partially explain the increase in winter deaths, according to the ONS.

The peak could also be partly explained by the higher levels of flu compared to the previous year.

This mainly impacted older adults, with an increase in care home outbreaks in particular.

Excess winter mortality continued to be highest among people aged 85 and over, 36pc higher last winter.