Further eight coronavirus deaths confirmed at region's hospitals

The deaths announced today mean 7,477 patients have died with the virus in the region's hospitals.

Alongside this, a further 1,383 people have died in the region's care homes after contracting coronavirus.

NHS England confirmed a further 71 hospital deaths on Thursday, meaning 85,730 have now died in the country's hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19.

Five deaths were announced at Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the death toll now stands at 723.

One hospital patient was confirmed to have died at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Manor Hospital, where the toll increased to 713.

A further patient also died at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well as Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, taking the death toll there to 2,574.

And one death was announced at the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, taking the total there to 56.

No new deaths were reported at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, where the total remains at 720, or at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the total is 1,152.

There were no new deaths reported at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford, where the total is 1,364.

Elsewhere, one death was announced at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 71 people, who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 85,730.

"Patients were aged between 41 and 99 years old. All except two - aged 46 and 62 years - had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from September 22, 2020 to March 19, 2021.

"Their families have been informed."