There is no evidence NHS strikes cause a spike of excess deaths despite claims by those using the figures to attack unions over their members' walkouts.
In fact some of the highest excess deaths were recorded when there were no strikes, illustrating how misleading was the argument levelled against industrial action.
From March 13 to 15, health workers walked out for 72 hours over pay, but following the strikes, some have suggested the action was directly responsible for an 11 per cent increase in deaths over the five year average in England.
