Spike in ‘excess deaths’ in Greater Manchester town could be down to government’s handling of NHS strikes, councillor suggests

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A spike in 'excess deaths' in Stockport could be down to the government's handling of NHS strikes, a councillor has suggested.

A recent report from the borough's director of public health reveals deaths in the category - above and beyond what would be expected under normal conditions - are no longer 'wholly being driven directly by Covid-19', with austerity and deprivation cited as possible reasons for the rise.

Some 341 'excess deaths' were registered in 2022 - an increase from 125 in 2021. They peaked in 2020 during the outbreak of the pandemic, with 493 registered. READ MORE: 'Twindemic' fears as coronavirus and flu vaccines rolled out and new Covid variant detected The report notes the trend is continuing into 2023, with mid-year 'excess deaths' already at 225.Councillor Keith Holloway, cabinet member for health and adult social care at Stockport council, told the LDRS: "There were NHS strikes, including ambulances, which might have contributed to it.

The government is not making things easy at all, and we are not treating our NHS staff as we should be doing." Coun Holloway said increasing the government's health spend to support the NHS could bring in an extra £100m extra per year for Stockport.