Dismay over sharp rise in 'preventable deaths'

THOUSANDS more patients are dying due to a lack of treatment or timely care since pre-pandemic times, research has revealed.

- Lucy Johnston

A quarter of all deaths in England and Wales could be avoided through better treatment or prevention, according to a report based on official government figures. The shocking findings also showed there has been a spike in such preventable or avoidable deaths since 2019.

Some 10,000 extra people have died due to a lack of timely care since Covid an increase of 10 per cent. This is a rise from 108,330 avoidable deaths in 2019 to 117,498 in 2022, which are the latest figures available.

Of the avoidable deaths in England and Wales in 2022, 65.1 per cent more than two in three could have been prevented, which equates to 81,792 deaths.

Meanwhile, 30.5 per cent of patients who died could have been given treatment, accounting for 43,820 deaths.