HUNDREDS more deaths than previously expected have been recorded in Wychavon since the coronavirus pandemic began, new figures show.

The King's Fund think tank warned that excess deaths could climb across England and Wales this winter and called on the Government to take action before the winter.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show Wychavon recorded 551 more deaths between March 2020 and June 2022 than the five-year average would suggest.

This was 18.9% more deaths than were expected over this time period – meaning the area has an excess death rate above the 11.1 per cent average across England and Wales.

Across the two nations, 137,447 more deaths were registered over the 28-month period than expected compared with previous years – 64 per cent of which were men.

The King's Fund think tank said this shows the "grim human toll of the pandemic", while wide geographical variations – caused by local infection rates, deprivation, and demographics among others – demonstrate the unequal impact of Covid-19.

Excess deaths nationally peaked in April 2020 and January 2021, which were also the months which had the highest number of deaths due to coronavirus.

In Wychavon, the month with the highest excess deaths was April 2020, when they were 126.8% above normal.

By contrast, June 2020 saw deaths 7.9% below usual levels.

Sarah Caul, head of mortality analysis at the ONS, said excess deaths in 2022 were being driven by higher than expected numbers of deaths since March, which could be caused by a combination of factors.

She added: "Across March, April and May we saw increases in deaths due to cardiac arrhythmias, predominantly among those aged 80 and above.

"Further work needs to be done to understand any link between the long-term effects of Covid-19 and increasing cardiac deaths."

The Department of Health and Social Care said its world-leading vaccination programme continues to save lives, with all those over 50 being offered jabs for both Covid and flu.