National Records of Scotland – Page 2 – The NEN

Coronavirus: Care home deaths now outstrip those in hospital

As at 26th April, 2,272 deaths have been registered in Scotland where COVID-19 was mentioned in the death certificate, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) today.

Between 20th April to 26th April, 656 deaths relating to COVID-19 have been registered, an increase of four from the previous week, 13th April to 19th April.

To place these statistics in context, the total number of deaths registered in Scotland from 20th April to 26th April was 1,830 – 68% more than the average number of deaths registered in the same week over the last five years, 1,087.

Of these 743 excess deaths, 85% were deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death.

Over a third of all registered deaths involving COVID-19 occurred in care homes, 39%. 52% of registered deaths were in hospitals and 9% were at home or non-institutional settings.

Almost three quarters of registered deaths involving COVID-19 to date were people aged 75 or over. Of all deaths to date involving COVID-19, 53% were male and 47% were female.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy. These statistics, alongside the other important evidence being made available by the Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotland (HPS), are valuable to the understanding of the progress and impact of the COVID-19 virus across Scotland.

“Our aim is to ensure that our statistical publication provides information that is as useful as possible and adds value to the understanding of how the virus is spreading throughout the country. We will continue to review and develop these statistics as new information is made available.”

Conservative health spokesman Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “My condolences are with family and friends of everyone who has tragically died from Covid-19.

“It is extremely concerning that in Edinburgh and the Lothians we are now in a position where there are more deaths in care homes than there are in hospitals.

“Care home residents are highly at risk to Covid-19 and every measure must be taken to protect care home residents, including full PPE being available, regular testing for Covid-19 and full training for staff on infection prevention.”

Winter death figures are highest since turn of the century

Figures released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) yesterday show that a total of 23,137 deaths were registered across Scotland from December 2017 to March 2018, (winter 2017/18) compared with 20,946 in the previous winter (2016/17). It was the largest number since 23,379 deaths were registered in winter 1999/2000. Continue reading Winter death figures are highest since turn of the century

ScotlandsPeople website revamp

Trace your family tree and find those long-lost ancestors

ScotlandsPeople – the website which helps people search for their Scottish ancestors online – has been revamped and relaunched with a new look and a number of new features. It’s an invaluable online resource for genealogists – and searches are free. Continue reading ScotlandsPeople website revamp

On the record

New exhibition celebrates the people behind 150 years of records

A new exhibition telling the 150 year old story of the men and women responsible for Scotland’s public records opens today (19 May) at the National Records of Scotland on Princes Street.

‘Recording Angels: Scottish Registrars since 1855’ uses previously unseen documents to tell the human story behind the millions of documents that record the lives of every person in Scotland.

In 1865, ten years after civil registration of births, marriages and deaths began in Scotland, local registrars banded together to form the Association of Registrars of Scotland. The Association is believed to be the oldest society of registrars in Europe, if not the world.

For the past 150 years the Association has worked with the Registrar General for Scotland to help shape modern registration practice, and supported registrars in their work of accurately recording life events of people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government, local authorities and the NHS use the detailed information in order to plan and provide public services. The Registrar General for Scotland oversees the work of local registrars, and the rich archive of registers they create is searchable through the official family history website ScotlandsPeople.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in the Scottish Government, said: “Thanks to the hard work of forward-thinking registrars, Scotland’s rich social history has been preserved and recorded for the ages. Their work underpins the delivery of vital services by the NHS in Scotland, by the Scottish Government and by local authorities, and has created a rich genealogical resource for everyone to use and enjoy.

“I’m delighted that the National Records of Scotland is marking over 150 years of co-operation between the Registrar General for Scotland and local registrars in delivering a service that directly benefits people in Scotland every day.”

Tim Ellis, Registrar General and Keeper of the Records of Scotland, said: “This year National Records of Scotland celebrates the milestone of 160 years since civil registration began in Scotland, and we congratulate the Association of Registrars of Scotland on their 150th anniversary. We work closely with local registrars and the Association to deliver vital services to the public. We are proud to be part of a unique and historic partnership that creates a resource that is used in many different ways for the public good.”

Shirley Dickie, the Secretary of the Association of Registrars of Scotland, said:“The Association of Registrars of Scotland is proud to be marking 150 years of public service. Our members not only have personal contact with people at important times of their lives, but for 150 years have helped deliver a very highly-regarded registration service, which underpins so many public services that benefit everybody in Scotland.”

The ‘Recording Angels: Scottish registrars since 1855’exhibition can be seen at the National Records of Scotland, General Register House, 2 Princes Street, Edinburgh, 19 May – 26 June, Monday to Friday, 9.00 – 4.30. Free admission.