Relatively low winter death numbers

THE NUMBER of deaths last winter was the sixth lowest since records began, new figures show.

There were 19,908 deaths registered in Scotland between December and March, up from the 19,119 recorded during the same period of 2011-12.

That winter saw the lowest number of deaths since 1951- 52 when records began.

When the number of deaths last winter is compared with deaths in the four months before and after, the seasonal increase in mortality is 2,000.

It is about 600 more than the corresponding figure for winter 2011-12 but the fourth lowest of the 62 winters for which the statistic has been produced.

Tim Ellis, chief executive of the National Records of Scotland, said: “There are always more deaths in the winter in Scotland than in any other season, but last year had one of the lowest seasonal increases since we started collecting this data in 1951-52.

“Only three other years have been lower.

“The long-term trend over the last 60 years or so has clearly been downward, although the f ive- year moving average, which smoothes out much of the year-to-year fluctuation, shows relatively little change in recent years, at around 2,500 ‘additional’ winter deaths.

“There is no single cause of additional deaths in winter.”