Two new coronavirus hospital deaths have been recorded in Dorset over the past 24 hours.

The deaths were reported at the new University Hospitals Dorset Trust, which 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.

NHS England figures show 217 people had died in hospital at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm yesterday (Wednesday (December 2).

That was an increase of two compared to Tuesday, when there were 215.

The victims were among 1,828 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.