A hospital trust recorded more deaths of coronavirus patients in January than it did in April last year, figures show.

Data released by NHS England shows just how much of an effect the winter Covid period has had, with West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust recording a total of 251 deaths during January.

It is the first time since April 2020 that the trust saw more than 200 Covid deaths in a single month.

And January’s figure is slightly higher than April’s, when 249 deaths were recorded.

The higher death figures for January was to be expected, with the trust caring for more than 300 coronavirus patients at any one time throughout the most of January; more than double the number of patients being cared for at any one time during the spring. 

The number of patients being cared for at the trust has reduced within the last couple of weeks, with latest government data showing 215 patients were being cared for as of February 2.

On February 11, more data will be released by NHS England on the age of Covid patients admitted into the trust, as well as the number of Covid patients discharged.  

Today’s update from NHS England 

NHS England data released today confirmed four more coronavirus patients being cared for at West Herts Hospitals Trust have died.

The deaths were recorded between January 8 and January 20.

It brings the total number of coronavirus patients to have died at the trust to 824 since the pandemic began.

Across England, a further 313 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 76,080.

Patients were aged between 16 and 108 years old. All except six, aged 49 - 81 years old, had known underlying health conditions.

The date of death ranges from December 24 to February 7, with the majority being on or after February 3.

Their families have been informed.