New data shows three Covid-19 related deaths recorded at Morecambe Bay hospitals in last three weeks

The latest death was recorded on June 27, with previous deaths recorded on June 20, and June 11, according to NHS England data.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Lancaster Guardian to UHMBT has revealed that between March 1 and June 10, 82 Covid-19 related deaths had been recorded at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, while 83 had been recorded at Furness General Hospital.

Two deaths had been recorded at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal - despite WGH being kept as a Covid-free site.

The first Covid-19 death recorded by UHMBT was on March 19 2020.

The two sets of figures don't quite tally however, with the trust figures showing 167 deaths up to June 10, and NHS England showing 164.

The Lancaster Guardian has contacted UHMBT for clarification.

As of Monday June 22, 370 people have been discharged home from hospitals across Morecambe Bay following treatment for coronavirus.

The majority of people who contract the disease do not need hospital treatment.

The way deaths are announced nationally means only trust-wide figures are released by NHS England, and it now only includes data for a specific hospital trust on a daily basis if a death has been recorded.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust includes the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal and Furness General Hospital in Barrow - although WGH is being kept as a Covid-free site.

The NHS England statistics include patients who died in hospital - but not other places, such as care homes.

Last week we reported how Carnforth, Silverdale and Warton is the area of the Lancaster district with the highest number of Covid-19 deaths, with 14, while Moorlands and Greaves is the lowest with zero.