The scale of the fight on wards of local hospitals against Covid-19 has been highlighted in the latest figures - which show that the area's hospitals suffered the second highest number of deaths in the UK since the start of the pandemic.

Latest figures released today (Sunday 28 March) - which show all Covid-related hospital deaths from the start of the pandemic up to and including yesterday - show that Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has recorded 2,356 fatalities since last March.

The trust runs Broomfield, Basildon and Southend Hospitals since the three merged together under one trust in April last year. The figures are not broken down between hospitals.

In March there have been 65 Covid-related deaths at the three hospitals.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has the highest death toll in the country, recording 2,578 fatalities.

Senior staff at the Mid and South Essex Trust say that operating as the third largest bed base in the country has meant they've cared for "very high numbers" of patients.

A spokesperson said: "Covid infections and community transmission rates in some parts of Essex were among the highest in England during the second wave, which led to very high numbers of Covid admissions to our three hospitals.

"Since the trust merged in April 2020, it has become one of the largest hospital trusts in the country and we operate the third largest bed base in England.

"This means that as an organisation we have cared for very high numbers of Covid patients during peaks in infection, which sadly also affects the number of Covid-related deaths we have seen."