This is an open letter to all leaders of local authorities on behalf of National Pensioners’ Convention members across the UK in order that you are aware of the number of deaths attributed to cold-related health conditions.
The figures for 2020/21 have been released and show 63,000 people died in England and Wales, almost double the previous recorded figure. The Office for National Statistics, said 84 per cent of winter deaths in England and 82 per cent in Wales were linked to Covid, claiming 10,000 could be attributed to cold-related illness.
The NPC is raising this issue with local dignitaries as a way of ensuring local services are aware of the dangers within their communities and that monitoring older people who struggle to maintain a warm home is extremely important.
With utility bills rising to the highest recorded in a long time, the winter fuel allowance being frozen for the last 11 years, the annual triple lock rise in pensions being suspended by the government, and increases in food and other costs, it is easy to understand that older people will need to make critical choices this winter.
When the winter fuel allowance was first introduced, it covered approximately a third of fuel bills. Today, it barely covers an eighth. The measures in place by the government to ensure families are protected from higher cost will clearly not be enough.
Decisions by older people will still need to be made on whether to pay for a TV licence, heat a room, or cook a meal.
This is totally unacceptable in the 21st century and we ask you to liaise with your local NPC forum/group as well as Action on Fuel Poverty, in an effort to ensure your communities are given help and support in the winter months.
Whilst the NPC is a campaigning organisation for older people’s rights, we also stand up for the pensioners of the future, those in your communities now, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We hope you will work with us to enable older people, families and others in your community to cope with the winter months ahead and the cold weather we expect to reach us very soon.
The figures are clearly appalling and distressing and the NPC will be calling for the Prime Minister to act and order a full analysis of the ONS figures to establish what the true breakdown is.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
Supporter of National Pensioners Convention
