Almost 1,500 vulnerable patients in Maldon were not told to shield until months after lockdown began last year, figures reveal.

NHS Digital figures show 1,570 patients in the Maldon district were on the shielding list by April 12.

Doctors were then asked to review the data, causing the patient count to swell to 3,070 by May 15 – an increase of 96 per cent.

The national shielding list soared again in February, with a new tool to assess whether someone is at risk of severe illness or death.

The latest update shows the Maldon shielding list has risen to 4,295 as of April 14 – 2,725 more than last year.

The Government said it delivered an urgent national scheme to contact people and provide them with food and medicine so they could shield – but many chose not to take up the offer.

A spokesman added: “These report findings are disappointing and misjudged.

“We have learned more about the virus and adapted our approach, which has enabled us to protect those most vulnerable by providing shielding guidance and prioritising them for vaccination.”