FOURTEEN Covid-related deaths have been registered by the Countess of Chester Hospital Trust in the space of 24 hours.

The latest NHS England data released this afternoon reveals that the trust – which covers the Chester and Ellesmere Port hospital sites – has now recorded more than 400 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The deaths registered in the latest 24-hour reporting period sadly occurred on January 10 (4), January 11 (6), January 12 (2) and January 13 (2).

Only Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (18) recorded a higher number of deaths in the region.

The high number of recorded deaths in a one-day period comes just days after chief executive Dr Susan Gilby said almost two-thirds of beds at the Countess of Chester are now occupied by patients with Covid-19.

East Cheshire (2), Mid Cheshire (2) and Warrington & Halton (2) hospital trusts also recorded additional deaths in the latest one-day reporting period.

The total number of Covid-19 patient deaths recorded in Cheshire's hospital trusts since the coronavirus pandemic began is:

  • Countess of Chester: 411
  • East Cheshire: 226
  • Mid Cheshire: 355
  • Warrington and Halton: 341
  • Total: 1,333

The daily NHS England data provides information on deaths of patients who have died in hospitals in England after testing positive for Covid-19, split by trust.

Across England, a further 884 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 58,712.

Patients were aged between 27 and 101 years-old. All except 48 (aged 38 to 101 years-old) had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from December 4, 2020 to January 13, 2021.

Their families have been informed.

The number of deaths of patients with Covid-19 by region are as follows:

  • East of England - 117
  • London - 185
  • Midlands - 175
  • North East & Yorkshire - 80
  • North West - 80
  • South East – 209
  • South West - 38