Government must act to end winter death scandal amongst pensioners
Britain’s biggest older people's organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), has called on the government to take immediate action to tackle the rising number of winter deaths amongst the country’s elderly.
The call follows the publication of the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which show a staggering 49% per cent increase in the excess winter death rate between December 2008 and March 2009 in England and Wales, compared with the same period the year before.
The figures show 36,700 more individuals died during the winter months than at other times of the year, up from 25,300 in the previous period. The vast majority of these were aged over 75. The figure also represents the highest rate of excess winter deaths since 1999/2000.
Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: "Since 1997, we have lost over 260,000 pensioners during the winter months because of cold related illnesses, yet the government seems incapable of acting. No other section of our society is so vulnerable and treated so badly. Pensioners see rising fuel bills and are constantly worried about whether or not they can afford to put their heating on.”
“Around 3m pensioner households are currently spending more than 10% of their income on fuel bills, and are living in fuel poverty. What these people need now is more money – in the form of the winter fuel allowance so that they can avoid having to decide whether to heat or eat.”
“All older people need to be reassured that they will not be financially punished for keeping warm in winter. The government must give them confidence that they will be able to pay their bills by raising the winter fuel allowance to at least £500 for every household, introducing an industry-wide reduced social tariff for older customers and forcing the energy companies to pass on reductions in prices.”
ENDS
For more information contact Neil Duncan-Jordan on 07940-357-608
FUEL POVERTY FACTS
• Nearly 90 per cent of all excess winter deaths are of people over the age of 65.
• Almost one in three older people live in homes with inadequate heating or insulation making their homes more difficult to heat and/or keep warm.
• More than 1 in 4 people living in fuel poverty are over 70 years old
• Average annual energy bills now exceed £1,000. This will absorb 16 per cent of the income of a single pensioner dependent on the pension credit minimum guarantee and the current £250 Winter Fuel Payment.
