MORE than 11,600 people died after catching Covid in NHS hospitals, shocking data reveals.
Figures show thousands of patients who went into hospital for unrelated illnesses contracted the bug, with fatal consequences.
Data shows 11,6888 people who died on wards after testing positive for the virus were likely to have caught it there .
The shocking figure accounts for one in eight Covid deaths in hospital.
MPs branded the numbers a “scandal” as they sparked fresh calls for compulsory jabs for NHS staff amid fears of a winter surge.
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP, now chairman of the health and social care select committee, told The Telegraph: “These numbers are truly shocking.
“Hospital infections have been the deadliest silent killer of the pandemic.
“It surely strengthens the case for mandatory vaccination for front-line health care staff.”
The revelation comes as Boris Johnson today expressed fears there were “too many elderly people” in hospital with Covid.
He urged Brits to come forward and snap up booster jabs as he warned Britain faces a “tough winter”.
The PM urged the UK has “got to get those numbers up” to avoid “excessive” pressure on the NHS.
Speaking during a visit to Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, he said the top up shot rollout is the “single most important” task for ministers.
He said: “Unfortunately what you’ve got at the moment is a situation in which the waning of the original two jabs is starting to see too many elderly people getting into hospital.
“Sadly the jabs do wane, we’ve done 10 million booster jabs already and it’s a very effective thing, it’s a wonderful thing people, get 95% more protection.
“The most important thing we can do for our country today if we want to protect our NHS, if we want to make sure we don’t have excessive pressures on A&E over what promises to be a tough winter, is to all get our booster jabs when we’re called.”
