July sees drop in deaths
According to recently published provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of deaths recorded in July 2017 reached 38,438. Compared to June, this represents a fall of 3,732, and, in comparison to July last year, a decrease of 520 deaths.
When looking at the recorded figures it’s important to note the impact of weekends and moveable public holidays during the relevant month. As registry offices are not open on these days, a death may have to registered in the following month, if, for example, it falls on a Saturday. When comparing statistics on a monthly and yearly basis, it is therefore important to consider the frequency of bank holidays and weekends during the particular months being looked at.
During July, the majority of deaths were registered in the South East, with the provisional figure reaching 5,837. In comparison to June 2017, this is a fall of 592. The North West followed, with registered deaths in this region totalling 5,092. This represents a monthly fall of 566 in terms of registered deaths.
In contrast, the region with the lowest number of deaths registered was the North East, with a total of 2,082. Compared to June 2017, the number of registered deaths has fallen by 96. Ranking slightly ahead was Wales, where 2,374 deaths were registered during July. In comparison to the figures in the previous month, the number of registered deaths fell by 252.