Deaths up by third at height of pandemic
ALMOST 4,000 people lost their lives to coronavirus within three months amid a surge in deaths across Scotland.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS) revealed 18,201 people died between April and June – 4,515 more than the average for the time of year.
Covid-19 accounted for 3,739 – 83 per cent – of these deaths, but there were also increases in fatalities from dementia, diabetes and other diseases, sparking calls for an investigation.
The NHS went into emergency measures in March to deal with a predicted influx of Covid cases, meaning routine appointments and procedures were halted.
There was also a drop in social care services and visitors to care homes, leading to a reduction in those seeking medical help.
The NRS figures, likely to put more pressure on Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, also show cases of dementia and diabetes rose by one quarter and deaths from cancer rose by 1.5 per cent, while fatalities from transport accidents fell by 69 per cent.
Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: ‘These figures are extremely concerning, and there is a clear need for further investigation.
‘Not only have older people borne the brunt of the health impact from coronavirus, but they have also been at greater risk of death from other causes, such as dementia and diabetes.
‘While it’s hard to speculate on the reasons, it’s likely there is a link to the pandemic. Health and social services were under huge strain during the months these figures relate to and many people were reluctant or unable to seek medical assistance.
‘We’re also very concerned the removal of social care packages for recipients across Scotland in late March could have had a significant impact on many people’s health and wellbeing. While cancer deaths only increased slightly, the postponement of routine screening and a sharp fall in urgent referrals could have very serious consequences.’
Julie Ramsay, vital events statistician at NRS, said: ‘The Covid19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of deaths we normally see at this time of year, and the overall death rate is a third higher than the five-year average.’
There were 1,145 births recorded in the quarterly figures, but NRS said the number is artificially low as registration offices were closed during lockdown.
Only 117 marriages took place, compared with an average of 7,938 during the same period for the previous five years.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are engaged in a programme of research with Public Health Scotland and NRS to understand the wider impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s population.’