On Friday, 8 March 2024 the BBC published an analysis of coroner reports that was disseminated on several platforms including BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
They found that NHS resourcing issues doubled since the pandemic, with 109 reports in 2023 compared with 58 in 2019, and 49 in 2018. The 109 reports highlighted long waits for NHS treatments, a shortage of staff and a lack of NHS resources, such as beds or scanners.
As the BBC don’t share their data, code or a list of the included reports, it’s difficult to comment any further on the accuracy of their findings.
In the above podcast recording from BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, I spoke with Nina Warhurst about coroners’ reports and the need for resourcing and funding our work. Until then, the Preventable Deaths Tracker will keep tracking.
Live on BBC Radio 5 Breakfast: Rising NHS pressures reported by coroners