June 1, 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 108 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 26,722.

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 108 deaths in hospitals in England: 79 (73%) of these were in the last week.

https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/covid-19-death-data-in-england-update-1st-june/

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

• 25th May: 59 deaths*
• 18th May: 122 deaths
• 11th May: 209 deaths
• 4th May: 204 deaths
• 27th of April: 329 deaths.
• 20th April: 429 deaths
• 13th April: 667 deaths

*There was likely under-reporting on this Bank Holiday.

Moving Average

“We now report the absolute rate of change in hospital admissions in England and the 7-day moving average to understand the change in the hospital data.

Reports of no deaths

There were 12 (9.2%) Hospital Trusts** with no deaths reported in the last 7 days, and 65 (49.6%) reported no deaths in the last 48 hours.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gmVPQsT1o8Y5IgHzxB32KeUuNaxStn475aOJcTPz3q0/edit#gid=425522040.”

**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/tag/covid-19

Declared interests

None received.