Pic credit: Age UK
A new service to help those whose health is affected by living in cold or damp homes has been launched by the National Energy Foundation, partnering with 11 local authorities across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Cold homes cost the NHS in England £1.36 billion every year in hospital and primary care. In addition, during the winter of 2014-15, there were an estimated 43,900 deaths in England and Wales caused by cold weather, the highest number since 1999/00.
The government’s latest Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics Report estimated that, in 2013, there were 2.35 million households living in fuel poverty in England.
Better Housing, Better Health aims to reduce pressure on health services and improve health and wellbeing for those living with a cardiovascular disease or respiratory illness – those who are most at risk from the health impacts of cold homes. Through practical energy efficiency improvements and advice, the scheme aims to:
- Help to prevent avoidable excess winter deaths. In 2012-13, 510 people died as a result of cold weather across the two counties
- Reduce fuel poverty, which affects 7.9% of households in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
The scheme runs until December 2016 and covers:
- Grants of up to £2,500 for energy efficiency measures for owner occupied homes where someone has a respiratory illness or cardiovascular disease.
- Free surveys to identify potential risks to health in owner occupied and privately rented homes where someone has a respiratory illness or cardiovascular disease.
- Support with benefits checks, fuel debt mediation and switching energy tariff or supplier, for anyone in need of support.
To access the service, referrals are made by a health or social care professional. Anyone who thinks they could be eligible for support from Better Housing, Better Health can download and complete the referral from and get it signed by a health or social care professional.
The National Energy Foundation is also offering free training to frontline health and social care staff through the scheme. This will emphasise the link between cold homes and ill health, show how to identify at-risk patients and explain how to make referrals to the scheme.
Project manager, Alexandra Steeland, said: “With winter upon us, this is the time of year when anyone living in a cold or damp home with a cardiovascular disease or a respiratory illness is most affected by the weather. It’s also the time of year when the NHS is at its most stretched. Better Housing, Better Health will help those most affected and aims to lessen the stress on local medical and social services.
Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for support from the scheme can call the Affordable Warmth Helpline on freephone 0800 107 0044.