Spike in deaths of over-75s across West Berkshire

District sees the largest rise across the whole of Berkshire

WEST Berkshire has seen the largest increase in deaths in people aged older than 75 out of anywhere else in the county, new figures reveal.

Last year the number of registered deaths in the 75-and-over age range rose by 10.6 per cent when compared to the average over the previous four years.

The rise is the highest in Berkshire, and more than 13 times higher than the increase seen in neighbouring Reading which had just a 0.8 per cent increase.

When compared to the average over the last four years, the rest of England saw an increase of 8.6 per cent, while deaths in those aged over 75 in the south east region rose by 8.3 per cent.

The figures, released by the Office of National Statistics also show that nationally the country saw the largest jump in the number of deaths in almost 50 years, which some experts have attributed to the type of flu jab administered last year, while also pointing to cuts to social services.

Chief Executive of Age UK Berkshire Mike Allen called the local statistics “significant” saying they are higher than the organisation would expect.

He added: “Age UK Berkshire cannot prove any causal link with the data, but reductions in the Adult Social Care budget and general cuts to Local Authorities are having an impact and may have added to this rise in deaths of over-75s.

“We see social isolation, or loneliness, as the biggest problem for older people, and especially for people 75+.

“Our national research says 13 per cent of over-75s always or often feel lonely - that's about 3,000 people in West Berkshire who are very socially-isolated.

“And because so much of West Berkshire is rural, older people are even-more isolated.

“Transport, or lack of it, is the biggest issue raised by older people across Berkshire, but raised more so in mostly-rural West Berkshire.

“Cuts to public transport in West Berkshire will only make it worse; older people are on fixed-budgets, so paying for taxis, etc., is not the option for some.

“The voluntary car schemes are excellent where they exist, but demand is higher than volunteers can meet.”

Dr Abid Irfan, chair of Newbury and District CCG commented: “Life expectancy for both men and women living in Newbury and the surrounding area is significantly better than the national average.

“The new data on death rates for the over 75s from the Office for National Statistics puts the CCG in the mid-range of CCGs across the Thames Valley and reflects the age profile for the area.

“The rate of potential years of life lost is significantly better than the national level and than CCGs with comparable demographics.”