Around 25,000 vulnerable people* will unnecessarily die in the next few months due to the cold, the NHS says.
Those in fuel poverty are at highest risk, although different campaigners define it differently. It is usually described as when more than 10 per cent of a household's income is spent on energy bills. Other say it is when people are living below the poverty line but experience higher than average bills.
Despite encouraging results in previous years there was an estimated 43,900 excess deaths in England and Wales last winter the highest number since 1999, figures show. The report suggests most of the deaths involved people over 75 and although the flu virus was a major cause of the rise fuel poverty will have contributed to some deaths.
CCB's Project Co-ordinator, Helen Dean, is already providing valuable advice at Children's Centre's to families but is also now looking to talk to older people's groups about how they can reduce their home energy costs. Any older person’s group that would like to receive a talk on reducing energy bills should get in touch with Helen at helen.dean@ccberks.org.uk or call 0118 9612000.
To read the full Frozen Out article please click here.
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