Help the Aged slams Government over 'disgraceful' winter death figures » Housing » 24dash.com

Winter deaths figures published today are "a disgrace" to the Government, a charity said.

There were an extra 25,300 in England and Wales from December 2007 to March 2008, compared to the average for non-winter periods, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed.

This was a rise of 7% compared with the winter of 2006/07, when there were 23,740 "excess winter deaths".T

Most of these are due to circulatory and respiratory diseases and the majority occur among the elderly.

Help the Aged said the number of deaths were still at unacceptable levels.

Mervyn Kohler, special adviser, said: "This year's winter deaths figures are a continuing disgrace to a Government who are there to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

"Older people are struggling on a daily basis, with the rising cost of living leading to real hardship.

"New figures which show 25,300 people died as a result of cold related illnesses underlines the genuine misery faced by many hard-pressed pensioners.

"Fuel poverty is a blight on society which has now grown to encompass one in four pensioner households.

"If we are to protect our older people this winter, the Government must act now to prevent the nation's grandparents becoming casualties of winter.

"Money which has been made available to insulate homes is an important part of the solution but will have little impact this winter.

"The £60 promised in the pre-budget report will help, but the Government needs to provide more crisis payments for older people struggling to heat their homes this Christmas.

"When billions have been spent to save our financial institutions surely some can be spared to save our older people."

Over the last 10 years, the figures were highest in the winters of 1998/9 and 1999/2000, when they stood at 46,840 and 48,400 respectively, at times of flu epidemics.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: "It is a national scandal that we have a higher number of excess winter deaths than every other country in Europe.

"With this winter set to be colder than last, the numbers are likely to rise.

"Pensioners are clearly more worried about staying warm and well this year. Yet, the impact of increased energy bills is causing thousands to risk their health by cutting back on heating.

"We would urge any older person who is struggling to make ends meet to find out if they are entitled to benefits, which could help to make paying their bills easier, and to take extra precautions to stay warm during the colder weather.

"The extra help for pensioners in this week's Pre-Budget Report is welcome but the Government must do much more to address unfair energy pricing which is penalising the poorest pensioners and families."