On Friday in Parliament a written question from Henry Smith, the Crawley MP was responded by Neil O’Brien the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health and Social Care. The answer included the following aspect

It is likely that a combination of factors has contributed to excess deaths over winter 2022/23, including high flu prevalence, cold, the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

And Neil also stated the text that is in the headline of this article. The question and answer can be obtained from here and the full text is as follows:

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to investigate the reasons for the increase in excess deaths over winter 2022/23.

Neil O’Brien: The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities produces a monthly update of excess mortality statistics, which have been used to monitor excess deaths since July 2020 and adjust for age and size of the population. There are a range of different organisations producing different estimates based on different methodologies. It is likely that a combination of factors has contributed to excess deaths over winter 2022/23, including high flu prevalence, cold, the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. We are taking steps to help reduce excess deaths, including those which involve COVID-19, and those due to other factors.