The number of people who died in Scotland last winter hit a 18-year high, new statistics have revealed. There were 23,137 deaths between December 2017 and March 2018, according to the National Records of Scotland – the highest figure since 1999/2000. It also revealed that the seasonal increase in mortality – the number of “additional” deaths in winter – was 75% greater than in 2016/17. The main underlying causes of the deaths were influenza and pneumonia. Why did more people die last winter? Last winter saw the highest rate of flu-like illness is Scotland for seven years, leaving the NHS facing “exceptional pressures”. Age Scotland said the National Records of Scotland (NRS) figures were “staggering”. It joined the Royal College of Physicians and Scotland’s chief medical officer in urging at-risk groups to get the flu vaccine before winter sets in.
BBC 16th Oct 2018 read more »