EXCESS DEATHS PROBE DEMAND

Thousands more dying than usual

MPs have called for an investigation into soaring death rates as thousands more people than usual are dying each week.

some 17,381 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the seven days to January 13 – 2,837 above average for the time of year.

This is the highest number of excess deaths since 3,429 in the week to February 12, 2021, when the UK was experiencing its second wave of Covid-19 infections and vaccination had only just begun. On that occasion, deaths involving coronavirus accounted for 37 per cent of those registered, according to the Office for National statistics.

In the most recent week, Covid-19 accounted for 5 per cent of the total – meaning other factors are likely to be driving high mortality.

Health experts say these could include ambulance delays, long waits in A&E, unmet needs during the pandemic and major backlogs for routine NHs care.

Excess deaths are the number of deaths above the average for the same period in previous years.

This winter has seen a sharp spike in the figures, with deaths 21 per cent and 20 per cent above average in the last fortnight in December, followed by 14 per cent and 20 per cent in the first two weeks of January.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has warned up to 500 people a week are dying as a result of ambulance and treatment delays.

Labour’s public health spokesman Andrew Gwynne yesterday accused the Government of ‘denial and buck-passing’.

Conservative former minister Esther McVey asked for an ‘urgent and thorough investigation’ into the excess deaths.