Winter deaths last year
There are growing concerns that winter deaths are at a high, and may even continue to rise this year. It’s been reported by The Telegraph, that last winter saw the highest number of deaths since the turn of the millennium. There were an estimated 44,000 “excess deaths” between December and March last year. This was the largest rise in winter deaths for almost five decades.
But why were the winter deaths so high last year? Well, experts have suggested that the failure of the flu vaccine last year, was one of the key factors in these deaths. The flu vaccine was only effective in one in three cases last year.
Causes of high death toll
- In January of last year, there were major failings across our health service. At least 14 hospitals declared major incidents as they became unable to cope with the number of patients arriving at Accident and Emergency departments.
- Just a month later, Public Health England issued a warning that the flu vaccine had barely worked, proving effective in just one in three people.
- Cold, damp and poorly insulated homes can cause illness in the elderly. Expensive energy prices and poor insulation can be part of the reason why the elderly get sick. It isn’t necessarily that are winter’s are getting colder, more that people’s homes aren’t warm enough to prevent illness.
Death toll could rise this year
The report from the ‘Office of National Statistics’ show the number of excess winter deaths in 2014/15 was the highest since 1999/00. There were 27 per cent more people dying in the winter months compared with the non-winter months.
Concerned charities have said the figures were shocking, and warned that failings would be replicated if more was not done to protect the elderly during winter.
Strain on the NHS
Hospitals are already under a lot of pressure this year, with latest published figures showing increased waiting times and levels of bed blocking than last year. These concerns over winter deaths rising is concerning if our NHS is struggling throughout the year, before winter brings more illness and age related illness.
Are you a health care professional or concerned family member worried about these figures? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @TelecareChoice.
