There was an increase in deaths across England during the summer heatwave according to the quarterly mortality report from April to June 2018.
There were a total of 120,645 deaths registered in England in quarter 2, which is 2,968 more than the 5-year average – on the 25 and 26 June when temperature soared, there were 259 more deaths than average.
However, experts are saying that it is too early to tell if these additional deaths were a result of the weather.
‘Although the provisional data currently available appear to show a high number of deaths at the end of June 2018, we cannot confirm the heatwave is the cause,’ said Annie Campbell of the Office of National Statistics, who published the report.
‘The question of deaths which might be attributable to a heatwave will be addressed in our next quarterly release, due to be published later this year.’
Data from July and August may help confirm the heatwave as the cause of the rise in deaths – this summer reached a peak temperature of 35.3C in Faversham in Kent on the 26 July.
The report stated: ‘Looking at the number of deaths that occurred in Quarter 2 2018, there were specific instances of increased mortality that coincided with periods of increased temperature in England; the question of deaths which might be attributable to a heatwave will be addressed in the next quarterly release.’
However, on 21 and 22 June there were 214 fewer deaths than the 5-year average for the same period but as temperatures rose, the number of deaths increased above the average.
Heatwaves can affect the health of any healthy person, but vulnerable people such as the elderly, infants, children and those with pre-existing health conditions are at a higher risk of health complications that can be potentially fatal.