England and Wales recorded more deaths this July compared to the same period during the last five years, with more deaths occurring during the heatwave, according to data from the Official for National Statistics (ONS).
According to the research, in July 2022, 42,034 deaths were reported in England, which is 3,898 deaths or 10.2 per cent more than the July average for the previous five years. Additionally, 2,638 deaths were reported in Wales, which is 108 deaths or 4.3 per cent more than the July average.
There were periods of exceptionally high temperatures in July 2022, which were associated with higher daily death rates than other days of the month. This was true for both deaths from all causes, which were 6.5 per cent higher in England and 12.3 per cent higher in Wales, and deaths from Covid-19, which were 31.1 per cent higher in England and 33.6 per cent higher in Wales.
Alzheimer’s illness and dementia accounted for 10.8 per cent of deaths in England in July 2022, whereas ischemic heart diseases accounted for 10.8 per cent of deaths in Wales. Following this were deaths related to malignant neoplasm of trachea bronchus and lung, cerebrovascular disorders which was third, and chronic lower respiratory diseases, which came in as the fourth most prevalent cause of death in July 2022.
Covid-19 was the sixth most common cause of death in both England and Wales in July 2022, accounting for 3.8 per cent of all deaths in England and 4.0 per cent of all deaths in Wales. In June 2022, Covid-19 was the 15th and 19th most common cause of death in England and Wales, respectively, but by July it had risen to the sixth most common cause in both countries, as was the case in May 2022.
ONS head of analysis James Tucker says: “Excess deaths fluctuate over time and could be caused by a combination of factors. Further investigation is required to understand this fully, including more deaths being registered.”