A HIGH uptake of flu jabs led to a fall in the winter mortality rate among the elderly last winter.

In Redditch, 68 per cent of those at greatest risk were immunised, three per cent higher than Government recommendations.

Overall, the death rate for elderly people in residential care dropped from 10-a-week last year to eight-a-week this year.

And the news has been welcomed by county health bosses.

Worcestershire Health Authority chief executive Pat Archer-Jones said: "Although we obviously encountered times when the pressures were severe, extra resources, together with the efforts of staff, meant we were able to cope.

"Social services were a key part of our strategy to deal with the winter working in partnership with community health services, Primary Care Groups and the Community and Mental Health Trust to ensure as many people as possible were cared for at home rather than having to go to hospital."

This year pressure on services at the Alexandra Hospital peaked six weeks later than usual during the week beginning March 18, possibly due to the warmer winter.

But Mrs Archer-Jones said the public had helped alleviate pressures by going to pharmacists or calling NHS Direct for advice instead of visiting their GP.