Health bosses were last night urged to focus on how to deal with an ageing population after figures revealed Orkney has the highest death rate in Scotland.
A total of 42 people out of 778 patients who required care in the islands died in the last three months of 2017, a rise from 18 in the previous quarter.
That amounts to a mortality rate of 5.4%, compared with a national average of 3.3% – and was over the predicted number of 36 deaths for the period.
Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain claimed an ageing population – combined with the winter – was a major factor, adding: “It was rather a shock to see some of the mortality figures for Scotland, particularly Orkney.
“However, it highlights the issue of how the country is moving from a young population to an older population.
“Considering this increase in the amount of elderly people living in the Highlands and islands it is becoming apparent health boards in the region must consider how it delivers services. We have to redesign our service provision.”
NHS Highland recorded 326 deaths out of 10,149 patients, remaining consistent in recent years at a mortality rate of 3.2%. NHS Grampian also recorded its highest rate, but it was equal to the national average of 3.3%, with 665 deaths out of 20,096 patients
Throughout 2017, Orkney had the highest mortality rate in Scotland in three of the four quarters, with 38 deaths between January and March (5.2%) and 33 deaths between April and June (4.6%). No one at NHS Orkney provided a comment.
Scotland as a whole recorded its highest ever death rate since records began in 2011.
There were 7,411 deaths out of 225,811 patients in the last three months of 2017 (3.3%), compared to 6,125 in the previous three months (2.8%). However, it was still less than the 7,842 deaths predicted by the NHS over the period.
The Western Isles had 51 deaths out of 1,229 patients, a mortality rate of 4.1% – its highest ever figure.
Orkney’s neighbouring island Shetland, meanwhile, had one of the lowest mortality rates in the country, at 2%, with 18 deaths out 851 patients.
.