THREE more people with coronavirus have died at Dorset hospitals according to the latest official figures.

A patient who tested positive for Covid-19 died within the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. The death was registered by the trust on Monday, November 23.

NHS England figures show 25 people have died in hospital within the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday.

That was an increase of one compared to Sunday, November 22 when there were 24. It means there have been two deaths in the past week, down from six the previous week.

Two new coronavirus deaths have meanwhile been recorded at the newly-formed University Hospitals Dorset Trust. The two deaths were recorded on November 22.

NHS England figures show 190 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Monday.

That was an increase of two compared to Sunday, when there were 188.

The new University Hospitals Dorset Trust was formed by a merger of the former Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on October 1.

The three deaths were among 1,647 deaths recorded across the South West.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death. This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.

NHS England said today a further 353 people who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) have died.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England now stands at 38,865.