For more than a decade, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published annual reports detailing excess winter mortality in England & Wales. In other words, how many more people had died in winter on average, compared to the rest of the year.
More explicitly:
Or at least they did until 2022, when their final report was published, which told us that excess winter deaths in 2021/22 had amounted to 13,400.
After that, the publications ceased, ostensibly with no explanation whatsoever. It took a Freedom of Information request to elicit the reason:
Thank you for your request.
Previously published annual data on excess winter mortality from 1950 to 2022 are available in our Winter mortality in England and Wales Statistical bulletins, using the excess winter deaths (EWD) and excess winter mortality index (EWMI) measures. However, this release was discontinued following the consultation that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) ran with the Department for Health and Social Care (including the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities), NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England. This was because of limitations with the methodology used to produce these measures.
The UKHSA published a Cold mortality monitoring report, England: winter 2024 to 2025 annual report on 18th February 2026 at 9:30am. This report provides the first national estimates of mortality associated with low temperatures during cold weather episodes in England over the winter season. These results are intended to inform public health preparedness and support action to reduce health impacts during periods of cold weather in England.
