37 more patients die after testing positive in hospitals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

The deaths announced today (weds) mean a total of 4,213 people have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting the virus.

In figures announced by NHS England today, a further 369 people have died in hospitals across the country, bringing the total to 45,126.

Patients were aged between 40 and 100 years old. All except 13 – aged 61 to 93 years old – had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from August 4 to December 15 2020 with the majority being on or after December 13.

Their families have been informed.

A total of 12 people died at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the death toll rose to 419.

Nine deaths were recorded at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital, taking the coronavirus death toll there to 760.

Twelve deaths were recorded at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, where the total now stands at 1,496.

Two people died at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, bringing the total there to 403.

One death was reported at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross and Cannock Chase hospitals, where the total increased to 414.

And one person died at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where 615 have now died in total.

Elsewhere, two patients have died at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.