Winter death figures at 30-year high

Age Scotland has said it is “extremely concerned” by new figures from National Records of Scotland, showing 24,427 deaths were registered in Scotland between December 2022 and March 2023.

This represents the highest number of winter deaths since 1989/90.

Age Scotland's Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, said:

“The scale of winter deaths last year is extremely concerning, marking the highest we have seen in Scotland for 30 years.

“The combination of the cost-of-living crisis, pressures on health and social care services, and spikes in flu and Covid-19 have had a severe impact, particularly on older people.

“We’re aware that many older people have faced difficulty accessing the health and social care they need, which may have led to conditions becoming more severe due to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

“Many have also struggled to meet the increasing cost of heating their homes to a safe level, increasing the risk of serious medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes.

“The cause of death with the largest seasonal increase was dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the ongoing importance of early diagnosis, preventative social care, access to self-directed support and appropriate post-diagnostic support, including community-based support, for those living with dementia.

“As we approach what will undoubtedly be another difficult winter, especially considering the ongoing impact of the cost of living crisis and the potential risks to health this poses, health and social care staff must have the resources and support they need to cope with demand for services.

“We hope today’s winter resilience plan from the Scottish Government will go some way to ease pressures and provide reassurance. In the longer term, it’s clear we need to carefully consider how we plan to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing population as a matter of priority.”