For months excess deaths in care homes and in hospitals were in abeyance, excess deaths which existed were taking place at home. According to latest ONS data, deaths at home continue to remain stubbornly high and those in hospitals and care homes are above the line once more.

Great concern that care homes are once again in a perilous position.

Major staff absence, sometimes means agency staff are unavoidable, a new variant, still insufficient sick pay provision to incentivise isolation when needed- all contributing to problems.

Deaths in London for the last week of last year 54.3% up on five year average. Wales 40%.

Kings Fund Chief Exec Richard Murray: “The UK has one of the highest rates of excess deaths in the world, with more excess d per million than most other European countries or the US. In a pandemic, mistakes cost likes. Decisions to enter lockdown have consistently come late...”