May 27, 2020

expert reaction to latest figures on COVID-19 reported deaths in hospitals in England

NHS England have published the latest figure for reported deaths in hospitals in England from COVID-19 – an additional 183 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 26,049.

Prof Carl Heneghan and Dr Jason Oke, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine and Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, said:

“Today’s reported figure is 183 deaths in hospitals in England: 162 (89%) of these were in the last week.

“See here for our full report: https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-death-data-in-england-update-27th-may/

“For comparison: the reported deaths in hospitals in England on the same weekday were:

• 20th May: 166 deaths
• 13th May: 244 deaths
• 6th May: 331 deaths
• 29th April: 445 deaths.
• 22nd April: 665 deaths

“There were 12 (9.2%) Hospital Trusts* with no deaths reported in the last 7 days, and 38 (29%) reported no deaths in the last 48 hours. (List here)

“*The sample includes 131 Type 1 A&E departments that are consultant-led 24-hour service with full resuscitation facilities and designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients.”

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-daily-deaths/

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:

www.sciencemediacentre.org/covid-19/

Declared interests

None received.