South Holland residents dying at home at same rate as during Covid pandemic lockdowns - with Coun Glynis Scalese urging people to return to in-person health appointments

The same number of South Holland residents are dying at home as during the pandemic - with patients being urged to return to in-person health appointments.

Provisional numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 223 of our residents have died in private homes so far in 2022, with only three of those due to Covid-19.

That is compared to 229 at the same stage last year and 236 in 2020 - the year Covid lockdowns were first introduced.

The ONS revealed last year that deaths in private homes from all causes increased by one third across England and Wales during 2020 compared to the five previous years.

With our district’s at-home deaths yet to to return to pre-pandemic levels, concerns have been raised that too many residents remain afraid to visit health appointments in person - therefore allowing harmful conditions to worsen or go unnoticed.

South Holland district councillor Glynis Scalese, who sits on the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, believes this is a possible reason behind the numbers.

She said: “It isn’t the care being given by the NHS that’s the problem, it’s the people that have been scared - especially the more vulnerable.

“Some people probably can’t get the care that they want.

“I do know we have some very, very good care homes in Spalding.”

The number of South Holland residents who have died in hospital this year (380) is down from 2020 (424).

Care home deaths have also decreased from 173 to 149 in the first 35 weeks of the year.

With people continuing to pass away at home in line with pandemic levels, Coun Scalese has urged those who are unwell to visit hospitals and GP surgeries in person as much as possible.

“Please try and go out - even if it’s with somebody to support you,” she said.

“Please go to your appointments - it’s important, because you don’t want to be waiting another two months.

“I would encourage everyone to try to get back to some normality.”