Charity calls for extra funds to beat winter cold suffering

The Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs have been forewarned that local health services will not be able to cope this winter with cold-related hospital admissions and repeat GP visits.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister the charity National Energy Action (NEA) has said that the NHS is currently bearing a yearly burden of £1.5bn treating cold-related illnesses and 10,000 lives could have been saved last year alone.

Following an MP debate on the Coalition’s plans for tackling ‘the scourge of fuel poverty’ and speaking to a gathering of Parliamentarians and industry stakeholders the charity followed up by directly urging Ministers and MPs to ensure they introduce extra immediate assistance within the Autumn Statement to avoid further unnecessary fatalities and debilitating cold-related illnesses. Jenny Saunders OBE, the charity’s Chief Executive said: “Before the election we are calling on the Coalition Government to make this a warmer and brighter winter for our poorest citizens and deliver some essential short-term relief. Without it, we fear the consequences could be grave and thousands will sadly die again this winter as services struggle to cope with the burden of cold homes.

“We know a more deliberate and sustainable approach will be needed in future but current proposals are not going to deal with the problem this winter. In previous years we have used our Warm Homes Campaign to actively promote the support that is available but the current assistance is far from adequate. This winter hard-pressed low income families must benefit from the Autumn Statement.”

NEA believes current policies need to be adapted immediately. Over a million households with young children have to ration their energy use and without automatic assistance to energy discounts and other targeted help, frontline organisations will find it more challenging than ever, to cope with demand for services such as energy debt write off and energy efficiency programmes. Jenny Saunders added: “Based on current plans, the majority of those most in need will be without essential energy efficiency interventions until 2020, or even 2025. Instead of letting low income families shiver, the Government must provide an automatic energy discount and targeted energy efficiency measures to those least able to live in the most expensive to heat homes.

“A lack of guaranteed assistance for eligible households also makes current energy efficiency schemes very difficult to promote, so we also encourage the Government to ensure eligible households put forward for help actually receive the assistance on offer. Beyond the General Election it will be more critical than ever we make the case for prioritising low-income and vulnerable households in the transition to a high cost, low-carbon world.”

The Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs have been forewarned that local health services will not be able to cope this winter with cold-related hospital admissions and repeat GP visits.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister the charity National Energy Action (NEA) has said that the NHS is currently bearing a yearly burden of £1.5bn treating cold-related illnesses and 10,000 lives could have been saved last year alone.

Following an MP debate on the Coalition’s plans for tackling ‘the scourge of fuel poverty’ and speaking to a gathering of Parliamentarians and industry stakeholders the charity followed up by directly urging Ministers and MPs to ensure they introduce extra immediate assistance within the Autumn Statement to avoid further unnecessary fatalities and debilitating cold-related illnesses. Jenny Saunders OBE, the charity’s Chief Executive said: “Before the election we are calling on the Coalition Government to make this a warmer and brighter winter for our poorest citizens and deliver some essential short-term relief. Without it, we fear the consequences could be grave and thousands will sadly die again this winter as services struggle to cope with the burden of cold homes.

“We know a more deliberate and sustainable approach will be needed in future but current proposals are not going to deal with the problem this winter. In previous years we have used our Warm Homes Campaign to actively promote the support that is available but the current assistance is far from adequate. This winter hard-pressed low income families must benefit from the Autumn Statement.”

NEA believes current policies need to be adapted immediately. Over a million households with young children have to ration their energy use and without automatic assistance to energy discounts and other targeted help, frontline organisations will find it more challenging than ever, to cope with demand for services such as energy debt write off and energy efficiency programmes. Jenny Saunders added: “Based on current plans, the majority of those most in need will be without essential energy efficiency interventions until 2020, or even 2025. Instead of letting low income families shiver, the Government must provide an automatic energy discount and targeted energy efficiency measures to those least able to live in the most expensive to heat homes.

“A lack of guaranteed assistance for eligible households also makes current energy efficiency schemes very difficult to promote, so we also encourage the Government to ensure eligible households put forward for help actually receive the assistance on offer. Beyond the General Election it will be more critical than ever we make the case for prioritising low-income and vulnerable households in the transition to a high cost, low-carbon world.”