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The cost of cold
Age UK’s new report for MPs and councillors.
Part of Spread the Warmth, making the case for why policy makers need to tackle the issue of excess winter deaths.
A campaign tool to highlight the issue among the public and the media.
Cold costs
• Around 25,000 lives a year
• £1.36 billion a year to the NHS
• Substantial cost in social care
• Personal tragedy for individuals and families
This is preventable
• Many much colder countries have lower mortality rates
WHY?
• Warmer, better insulated houses
• Cultural practices: people know how to keep warm
CrisisCost of energy
Low income
Under-occupancy
Energy efficiency
Factors affecting exposure to cold
Who can we influence?
• Older people themselves• behaviour change work – posters, recipe books,
thermometers• partnership with the Met Office to let people know when
cold weather is on its way
• Local authorities • through local brand partners
• National government• through individuals, partners
• Asking MPs to influence nationally and locally
How local authorities and their partners can make a difference
• Use the new local health structures to make excess winter deaths and illness a priority
• Improve the energy efficiency of vulnerable older people’s homes
Eg: Cheshire West & Chester Council
Ward-level mapping > problem greatest in rural areas > roadshows
Health and Wellbeing Board – winter deaths have been identified as a priority > funding for local projects eg Snow Angels, run by partnership including Age UK Cheshire
National government
There has been progress:
•Cold Weather plan (Age UK campaigned for this
in 2010/11)
•Warm Homes, Healthy People funding, £20m this year
•Public Health Outcomes Framework
•NICE looking at developing guidance – but a long way off
Home energy efficiency
• Much more needs to be done to make sure older people live in warm, well-insulated homes
• New policies including the Green Deal will not be adequate
• Investment is needed
• Average cost of insulating a home = £7500
• Average cost of a week’s stay in hospital = £1750 - £2100
The Energy Bill Revolution
What can you do?
Email your own MP and call for action!
Visit www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk and follow the links.
Download a copy of the report to read.
Look out for more actions coming soon.