May 22, 2020

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

NHS England have published the latest figure for reported deaths in hospitals in England from COVID-19 – an additional 121 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 25,387.

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 121 deaths in hospitals in England: 117 (97%) of these deaths were in the last week.

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

• 15th May: 186 deaths
• 8th May:  332 deaths
• 1st May: 352 deaths.
• 24th April: 587 deaths
• 17th April:  738 deaths

“There were 15 (11.5%) Hospital Trusts* with no deaths reported in the last 7 days, and 44 reported no deaths in the last 48 hours.

“See google sheet

“*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.