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| Summer heatwave may explain surge in deaths in England and Wales Summer heatwave may explain surge in deaths in England and Wales | |
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| A heatwave over the summer may have led to a spike in deaths in England and Wales, provisional figures suggest. | A heatwave over the summer may have led to a spike in deaths in England and Wales, provisional figures suggest. |
| The Office for National Statistics said there was “an unusual peak in mortality around 19 July 2016”, a period when there were higher than average temperatures. | The Office for National Statistics said there was “an unusual peak in mortality around 19 July 2016”, a period when there were higher than average temperatures. |
| On 19 July itself, when a high of 33.5C (92.3F) was recorded in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, there were 1,661 deaths, whereas the five-year average number of deaths on that date was 1,267. | On 19 July itself, when a high of 33.5C (92.3F) was recorded in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, there were 1,661 deaths, whereas the five-year average number of deaths on that date was 1,267. |
| Elderly people, infants and those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are most at risk of death in a heatwave. | Elderly people, infants and those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are most at risk of death in a heatwave. |
| An ONS spokeswoman said: “Trends in provisional temperature data from this period show that there were higher than average temperatures around 19 July 2016, which may explain the peak in mortality at this time.” | An ONS spokeswoman said: “Trends in provisional temperature data from this period show that there were higher than average temperatures around 19 July 2016, which may explain the peak in mortality at this time.” |
| The very hot temperatures began on 17 July, when there were 1,468 deaths, compared with the five-year average on that date of 1,240. Successive highest temperatures for the year to date were then set on 18 and 19 July. | The very hot temperatures began on 17 July, when there were 1,468 deaths, compared with the five-year average on that date of 1,240. Successive highest temperatures for the year to date were then set on 18 and 19 July. |
| The heatwave, which saw temperatures exceed those in the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and the Sahara desert, prompted Public Health England to urge people to look out for relatives and friends who might be particularly vulnerable to the heat. | The heatwave, which saw temperatures exceed those in the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and the Sahara desert, prompted Public Health England to urge people to look out for relatives and friends who might be particularly vulnerable to the heat. |
| The London ambulance service said that on 18 July it received more than 300 category A calls, which means paramedics respond under blue lights to seriously ill and injured patients. | The London ambulance service said that on 18 July it received more than 300 category A calls, which means paramedics respond under blue lights to seriously ill and injured patients. |
| In a commentary accompanying the figures, published on Wednesday, the ONS said research had found “a small but significant relationship between extreme summer temperatures and excess mortality”. | In a commentary accompanying the figures, published on Wednesday, the ONS said research had found “a small but significant relationship between extreme summer temperatures and excess mortality”. |
| The ONS figures also showed that the number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales had almost halved in 2015-16, compared with the previous winter, when they hit a 15-year high. | The ONS figures also showed that the number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales had almost halved in 2015-16, compared with the previous winter, when they hit a 15-year high. |
| Between December 2015 and March 2016, 24,300 more deaths occurred compared with the rest of the year. That was significantly down on the tally of the previous year, when there were 43,850 confirmed excess winter deaths, a spike attributed partly to the lack of effectiveness of the flu vaccine in 2014-15. | Between December 2015 and March 2016, 24,300 more deaths occurred compared with the rest of the year. That was significantly down on the tally of the previous year, when there were 43,850 confirmed excess winter deaths, a spike attributed partly to the lack of effectiveness of the flu vaccine in 2014-15. |
| Annie Campbell from the ONS said: “One of the key factors behind the lower excess mortality this winter was a fall in the number of deaths among the elderly. This was mainly due to the most prevalent strain of the flu virus impacting younger people rather older people, who are more at risk.” | Annie Campbell from the ONS said: “One of the key factors behind the lower excess mortality this winter was a fall in the number of deaths among the elderly. This was mainly due to the most prevalent strain of the flu virus impacting younger people rather older people, who are more at risk.” |
| Although last winter was milder, with an average temperature of 6.2C, up from 4.8C in 2014-15, the ONS said it was more a case of the number of excess deaths falling back in line with average trends after a winter of uncommonly high fatalities, rather than there being a particularly low number of deaths in 2015-16. | Although last winter was milder, with an average temperature of 6.2C, up from 4.8C in 2014-15, the ONS said it was more a case of the number of excess deaths falling back in line with average trends after a winter of uncommonly high fatalities, rather than there being a particularly low number of deaths in 2015-16. |
| There were 15% more deaths during the winter of 2015-16 compared with the non-winter months. More than a third of all excess winter deaths were caused by respiratory diseases. | There were 15% more deaths during the winter of 2015-16 compared with the non-winter months. More than a third of all excess winter deaths were caused by respiratory diseases. |