Chesterfield neighbourhoods worst hit by pandemic revealed

Data published by the Office for National Statistics comparing the number of deaths registered during the pandemic to a baseline from previous years shows some areas of the country were significantly more affected than others.

The Health Foundation said the virus has laid bare inequalities across England and Wales, with poor health, deprivation and stretched public services to blame for increased exposure.

In the 14 months to the end of April, there were 1,527 deaths registered in Chesterfield – 111 (7.8%) more than the 1,416 predicted, according to the ONS figures.

Of the deaths, 207 had Covid-19 listed as the main cause – however, many Covid-related deaths at the start of the pandemic may have been undiagnosed, the ONS cautioned.

MORE COVID NEWS: The Covid infection rate in every neighbourhood of Chesterfield in the first week of August

A further breakdown for Chesterfield, released for the first time, also reveals which of the area's 13 neighbourhoods had the highest and lowest excess death rates during the pandemic.

The measurement compares the number of deaths registered during the period with how many were predicted based on previous mortality rates between 2014 and 2019.

It has been described as the key metric for the impact of the pandemic by Professor Chris Whitty, the Government's chief medical officer.

In Chesterfield, the neighbourhoods with the highest excess death rates were:

1) Newbold – 128 deaths, 34 (36.2%) more deaths than expected, and including 21 with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) New Whittington, Hollingwood and Barrow Hill – 77 deaths, 12 (18.5%) more deaths than expected, including 14 due to Covid-19

3) Old Whittington – 123 deaths, 19 (18.3%) more deaths than expected , including 13 due to Covid-19

The neighbourhoods with the lowest excess death rates were:

1) Boythorpe and Birdholme – 82 deaths, eight (8.9%) fewer than expected, and including eight with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Dunston – 103 deaths, nine (8%) fewer than expected, including 16 due to Covid-19

3) Loundsley Green and Holme Hall – 98 deaths, seven (6.7%) fewer than expected, including 13 due to Covid-19

In its Covid-19 Impact Inquiry report, the Health Foundation said people aged under 65 living in the most deprived areas were almost four times more likely to die from the virus, compared to those in the most affluent.

It found those in poor health, cramped housing conditions and some working environments faced an increased risk of exposure.

Assistant director David Finch said: "There is extensive evidence that poor health and existing inequalities left parts of the country vulnerable to the virus and defined the contours of its devastating impact.

"Deep-rooted issues such as poor health, increased financial insecurity and strained public services left some people more exposed."

In Chesterfield, the highest number of excess deaths came in April last year when there were 55.

The Department of Health and Social Care said increasing vaccine uptake was a “key step” to addressing the disparity of outcomes for those who catch Covid.

A spokesperson said: “The vaccines are saving lives and building a wall of protection against the disease.”