Drops in nurse numbers since 2010 are the main cause of the excess deaths – mostly among the over 60’s and aged care residents – according to a new UK study.

The researcher warn there could be an additional toll of up to 100 deaths every day from now on without an annual injection of £6.3B to close the ‘mortality gap’.

From 2010 to 2014, the National Health Service (NHS) in England has only had a real-term increase in government funding of 1.3%.