The number of people who died in the last week of 2022 was 20% higher than normal, harrowing figures reveal today - as the overstretched NHS battles a deadly wave of winter illnesses.
Latest data shows an alarming rise in people dying in their own homes - with over 680 more people dying at private addresses than would usually be expected in England and Wales.
Meanwhile hospital deaths were nearly 15% above the five-year average.
It comes as hospitalisations with Covid and flu rocket, while the NHS battles an emergency care crisis feared to be causing up to 500 unnecessary deaths a week.
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 9,517 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week up to December 30 - almost 1,600 more than would usually be expected.
A week earlier the number of excess deaths was an alarming 2,493 in England and Wales.
NHS England yesterday said that the number of people being treated in hospital with Covid has passed 9,000, while around 5,500 people were in hospital with flu every day last week.
This compares to around 50 flu patients on average a year ago.
Today's grim ONS data shows that the number of people who died in private homes that week was 37% higher than the past five years, excluding 2020.
This meant an additional 684 people died at home in the seven days compared to normal.
Deaths in hospital were 14.8% higher than usual, while care home deaths were 20.4% above the five-year average.
The week up to December 30 did not include any days of strikes by nurses or ambulance service staff.
Delays due to bank holidays over the Christmas period mean the true number of deaths could be much higher.
ONS said that 393 death certificates during the final week of December mentioned Covid-19, with 71% of these recording the virus as the underlying cause of death.
Last week Dr Adrian Boyle, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, warned that hundreds of people were dying because of avoidable delays.
Dr Boyle said this winter is likely to be the worst on record for A&E wait times as hospitals are hit with rocketing demand driven by flu, Covid and Strep A.
He added: “We think between 300 to 500 people are dying as a consequence of delays and problems with urgent and emergency care each week. We need to get a grip of this. I’d be amazed if December waiting time figures [yet to be released] are not the worst we’ve seen.
"We need to increase our capacity, make sure there are alternative ways so people aren’t all just funnelled into the ambulance service and emergency department.”
Yesterday Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “There has been a dramatic increase in hospital admissions for flu and we are seeing the highest levels of hospital admissions we’ve seen in at least a decade. There are currently over 5,000 hospital beds a day taken up by flu patients, compared to just 50 this time last year.
“This week, I have visited hospitals and emergency departments to see first-hand the operational action taking place to ensure patients are receiving the right care and I continue to work closely with NHS England to prioritise this issue.
