Quarter of deaths in 2023 ‘avoidable’, statistics show

Just over a quarter of those who died in Scotland during 2023 had an “avoidable death”, National Records of Scotland (NRS) has said.

Defined as being a death which is “considered preventable or treatable”, 16,548 (26%) deaths in 2023 were classed as avoidable.

The rate of avoidable deaths remained broadly steady from 2022, the NRS figures show.

The leading cause of avoidable mortality in 2023 remained cancer, followed by circulatory diseases.

Nearly one in six avoidable deaths was alcohol or drug-related, research from NRS found.

Those in the 20% most deprived areas of the country were four times more likely to have an avoidable death in 2023 than those in the 20% least deprived, it said.

Stefania Sechi, assistant statistician at NRS, said: “The rate of avoidable deaths decreased over most years from 2001.

“They increased suddenly during the pandemic. They came back down afterwards, but the rate of avoidable mortality is still higher than before the coronavirus pandemic.

“Alcohol and drug-related avoidable deaths are at their third highest level since 2001.

“These causes are more likely in deprived areas and more likely in males. These deaths are all classed as avoidable.”

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “This heartbreaking report shows far too many Scots are still having their lives cut short needlessly.

“These are the worst consequences of government incompetence and the SNP Government cannot escape the fact it has missed its cancer treatment time targets time and time again, failed to deal with the growing crisis of drug and alcohol deaths, and let chaos engulf our NHS.

“As is so often the case, it is the poorest people in Scotland paying the harshest price for these failures.”

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane meanwhile said: “These figures should be a source of shame for SNP ministers.

“The failures by successive health secretaries have ultimately resulted in thousands of Scots losing their lives unnecessarily.

“Under the SNP, one in six Scots are languishing on NHS waiting lists, our drug deaths are the worst in Europe and they have not met their cancer waiting time target in over a decade.

“The nationalists have made Scotland the sick man of the United Kingdom and owe these families an urgent apology.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I am determined to address the causes of ill health and prevent it from occurring in the first place.

“We will continue to build on our track record of strong public health interventions to prevent cancers where possible. These include measures to reduce smoking prevalence – including ensuring children born after January 1, 2009 can never legally buy tobacco as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

“Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading minimum unit price policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions, and contributed to tackling health inequalities.

“As well as opening the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility pilot, we’re working towards a drug-checking pilot which would enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends, and widening access to life-saving naloxone, treatment and residential rehabilitation.”